Multiple-Source Attribution Week 7

Multiple-source attribution Helping your audience keep track of who is speaking

Multiple-source attribution Why more than one source in a story? –Interest –Credibility –Balance –Depth

Multiple-source attribution Audience must ALWAYS know who is speaking –Clarity –Accuracy –Especially important on controversial subjects

Multiple-source attribution Attribution review –What must be attributed? –Where does that attribution go? “There will be only 30 cattle in the Zebu show this year,” Shafer said. “That is down from last year. “We don’t know if there will be a Zebu show at the 2004 event.”

Multiple-source attribution Readers assume all quotes will be from the first source until you introduce a second speaker. Therefore, you must introduce the second speaker before he or she is quoted directly.

Multiple-source attribution Methods of introduction (transitions). Short, one-sentence paragraph that transitions to the next speaker Deputy Assistant General Manager Suzy Martin disagrees with Shafer’s assessment. “I think we will have more Zebu cattle at the 2004 event,” Martin said.

Multiple-source attribution Beginning the sentence with the new speaker’s identification Deputy Assistant General Manager Suzy Martin said, “I think we will have more Zebu cattle at the 2004 event.”

Multiple-source attribution What happens when you return to the original speaker? –Must cue the audience that they are back before they speak. –Do not need to include full identification this time.

Multiple-source attribution Special cases –Two people with the same last name Use full names on first reference... said Suzy Martin... said Bill Martin... said Suzy... said Bill

Multiple-source attribution Hints –Always remember to use complete identification the first time you include a source. –Never make the audience guess who is speaking at the beginning of a direct quote. –Select who you include as sources with care