1. 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?

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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…”

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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…

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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