Attribution, the Active Voice & What’s Important

Attribution Definition: simply means telling your readers where the information in your story comes from, as well as who is being quoted. Generally, attribution means using a source’s full name and job title (when relevant).

Types of Attribution DIRECT QUOTE Jeb Jones, who lives in the trailer park, said, “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it.”

Types of Attribution INDIRECT QUOTE, or PARAPHRASE Jeb Jones, a resident of the trailer park, said the sound of the tornado was terrifying.

Types of Attribution PARAPHRASE & DIRECT QUOTE Jeb Jones, a resident of the trailer park, said the sound of the tornado was terrifying. “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it,” Jones said.

More on Attribution Notice that in news writing style we use a source’s full name on first reference, then just the last name on all subsequent references. If your source has a specific title or rank, use their title before their full name on first reference. Then just the last name after that.

More on Attribution Any time the information in your story comes from a source, and not from your own firsthand observations, it should be attributed. A good rule of thumb is to attribute once per paragraph. It may seem repetitive, but it’s important for reporters to be clear about where their information originates.

More on Attribution Whenever possible – which is most always – use the active voice in attribution: “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it,” Jones said. Jeb Jones, who lives in the trailer park, said, “It sounded like a giant locomotive train coming through. I’ve never heard anything like it.”

More on Attribution The beauty of “SAID.” Good example: Holzaepfel said, “(The goal of the Series) is to bring things in that challenge our audience.” Bad example: “And the story describes his life after college,” explains Holzaepfel.

Active vs. Passive Voice In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb. This is active.verb One can change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct object) so that the subject is no longer active, but is, instead, being acted upon by the verb - or passive.direct object

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice Examples: 1.) Most of you wrote solid leads. 1a.) Leads were written solidly by most of you. 2.) At each concert, Coldplay sang one cover. 2a.) A cover was sung by Coldplay at each concert.

What is Important? Who, what, when, where? Why and How? BUT WHERE TO PUT IT? Ultimately, YOU have to decide. 1.Ask why you’re writing the story? 2.What do your readers want to know? 3.Read your work and answer the questions.

Other issues Opinion and opinion-words Nope: On Nov. 4, the hilarious musical is being put on at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium. Nope: …none of these addressed them quite like the sometimes-outlandish musical, Avenue Q.

Other issues (cont.) BE CONCISE! Good: (Brooke’s lead) The musical, which will take place Nov. 4 in Memorial Auditorium on the OU campus, has already sold more than 60 percent of the available tickets, according to Andrew Holzaepfel, Associate Director at the Office of the University Events.

Other issues (cont.) BE CONCISE! Bad So what’s the fuss all about? Besides winning the Tony Aware in 2004 for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book, Avenue Q is an unexpected musical about the character Princeton beginning his life in New York City after college.

Other issues (cont.) Use short paragraphs. One to two sentences is solid! (Longer sentences are fine, but keep the ‘grafs’ short.

Common AP mistakes in stories Correct: Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Incorrect: November 9 th, or November Ninth. Don’t need the year, either, unless it’s different. Correct: 60 percent Incorrect: 60% Correct: $20 Incorrect: 20 dollars, $20.00