Quote, unquote: The power of speech Style refresher What quotes do Sunday, 24 February 2019 Using quotes Quote, unquote: The power of speech Style refresher What quotes do Direct, indirect or trash?

It should always be clear that it is a quote Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Style It should always be clear that it is a quote He said: “Start with a capital letter and don’t close the quote if it runs on into the next paragraph. “Start here with a quote mark, then put the full stop inside the close mark.” He added: “Make sure anything ‘added’ is short.” Lecturer Rob Bailey said to watch out when using partial quotes because “the full stop goes outside the quote marks”. Let them know who is talking

Readers need a proper introduction Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Style Readers need a proper introduction Full name Age Address Occupation Introduce them before quoting them! E.g. Paul Wilkinson, 53, director of the Kent Archaeology Field School, said: “…” Paul Wilkinson

Reliability: the key issue in any interview Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Purpose Reliability: the key issue in any interview If you know something is true, there’s no need to couch it in quotes. So you always need to ask yourself: Is this a strong source for this information? Is there a better source? Do I need a confirmation? Who can give it? Is there an alternative view? They say they’re digging

Due scepticism, not outright paranoia Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Purpose Due scepticism, not outright paranoia If the police tell you they’ve arrested someone, you can trust that they have. If an archaeologist tells you they’ve been digging a site, you can trust they have. If they tell you that site is a Roman theatre, you can trust that’s their opinion. Use an attributed quote. But you might want to leave room for doubt, if new evidence emerges. They say they’ve arrested him

Why bother with quotes at all? Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Purpose Why bother with quotes at all? Authority Readers respect experts Especially if quoted verbatim Attribution Quotes make sure opinions belong to someone, and add authenticity What the PM said has intrinsic news value, as does how he said it. Trust The quality of sources and quotes gives readers confidence Why not just summarise him?

Why not just fill the story with speech? Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Purpose Why not just fill the story with speech? Readers expect you to tell them what is going on. Quotes add additional evidence and colour – they should not carry all the weight. Don’t stack quotes Vary tone and voices The key facts of the story should be checked and presented to the reader as the truth – only use quotes if there is an element of doubt. “Police arrested a man…”

Picking out the key quotes #1 Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Exercise Picking out the key quotes #1 Look at the quotes from last week’s story. They have been split into 23 phrases. For each one, decide whether you should: A – Quote it verbatim B – Use it, but not as a direct quote C – Not use it at all Only a maximum of seven can be selected in category A. Back to the dig site

Picking out the quotes and building a story Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Exercise Picking out the quotes and building a story A B C 4, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22 1 Is Wilkinson a reliable source for all of this information? What elements can be stated as facts? What purpose do I want him to serve in the story? Time Team Antiques Road Show etc. The true value of experts is their opinion. My choices

Half the facts you tell ain’t true… Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Attribution Half the facts you tell ain’t true… Not all “facts” are “true”. E.g. conflicting accounts of an incident Political debate Use quotes to attribute information that may be: Unreliable Biased Subject to change Open to interpretation Reporting death tolls

100 feared dead in rail tunnel disaster Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Attribution 100 feared dead in rail tunnel disaster More than 100 people are feared dead after a train derailed on a frozen track in Kent this morning. It happened as the train, which was packed with commuters in the morning rush hour, exited the Higham Tunnel near Rochester. […] Medway police chief John Smith said: “We are still clearing through the debris. The latest estimate is that we may find up to 100 people in the wreckage.” This is Higham Tunnel…

Roman theatre find may make history Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Attribution Roman theatre find may make history A 2,000-year-old Roman theatre, thought to be the first of its kind in Britain, has been unearthed in Kent. The U-shaped, cockpit-style theatre, large enough for 12,000 spectators, is on the North Downs near Faversham. […] Dr Paul Wilkinson said: “We have uncovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old Roman theatre. If our dating of the site is correct, it would make it the oldest Roman theatre in Britain.” This quote is superfluous

Picking out the key quotes #2 Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Exercise Picking out the key quotes #2 You’ve got two sources. What would be the purpose of police quotes here? What would be the purpose of witness quotes? Again, rank the stories: A – Quote it verbatim B – Use it, but not as a direct quote C – Don’t use it Maximum total of 7 As. Bang

Picking out the quotes and building a story Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Exercise Picking out the quotes and building a story A B C 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 18, 21, 22 14, 23, 24 The police: Basic facts are undisputed Reassuring message is the key thing to quote The witness: Not reliable But it is a fact that she thinks she saw the gun – and that the police are taking it seriously Her account must be quoted, so readers can judge it for themselves My choices

Now write it up Exercise 200-250 words Strong use of quotes Using quotes Sunday, 24 February 2019 Exercise Now write it up 200-250 words Strong use of quotes Think about what makes the best angle for this story