[MUSIC] Welcome to course three, Preparing Your News Report. This module is on how to prepare quotes and formatting and best practices. I'm Dr.Lucinda Davenport, I'm Director of the School of Journalism. Journalists do a lot of research and information gathering to understand a situation or an issue or an event. The research may include an examination of documents, observing the scene, interviewing and other types of news gathering. You will do more research and interview more people than will fit into your news report because you need to know the subject thoroughly. After all, if you don't understand what you're reporting on, then your audience won't understand either. And, most likely, your news report will be vague and confusing. If you confuse your audience, then they will turn away from your story or worse they might understand something completely different from what you were trying to say. When you interview sources you need to take great notes. And some journalist uses tape recorder. But if you use a tape recorder then you must ask your source for permission to record the interview. I encourage you to read newspapers and magazines and really take notice of how journalists weave in quotes to interviews effectively. In this module, we will talk about why and when to use quotes, the different types of quotes, introducing and formatting quotes and some general advice about quoting. So let's first talk about why it's important to quote sources in your news report. Quoting lends authority. It shows that the reporter has talked with the people who are knowledgeable about this subject, or who are directly affected by it. For example, if you report that a hospital is adding a new unit to focus on treating children with cancer, then you want to talk to several people. You might want to talk to the head of the hospital and ask that person what does this mean? What will happen? When will it all come about? You may want to talk to a person who donated money. Why did they donate? Why is this important? What do they hope that this new branch at the hospital will do? You also might want to talk to parents with children who have cancer. And you might ask them, what do you think about this, or is it that they might to have to travel so far to be treated? And maybe they can get their treatment quicker. And, you'll want to talk to a lot of other people that have different viewpoints and give more information to the story. Another reason you might want to use quotes is that it shows your audiences that you talked to eyewitnesses. Often, a reporter is not at the scene when something happens. Therefore, you need to talk to people who were there and to recreate what happened through their eyes for your audience. Another reason to use quotes is that they might be first person accounts of how an issue or an event affects different communities within our society so that everyone has a better idea of the situation. And lastly you want to use quotes to get evidence that you are not simply editorializing or giving opinions about what you think. But that you talked with people and want to share their opinions with others. So here's an example of that. Here's something you do not want to say. The tax hike is a good thing and will raise needed revenue for the city. Hm, sounds like it came from you. So here's what you do want to say. Quote, the funds will give us the resources to build roads and hire new police officers to help with the city's safety unquote, said Mayor Hill. So again, in the first sentence it appears the report that the reporter, you, are saying that the tax hike is good. In the second sentence it is the Mayor who is telling you that this is a good thing and why. Now let's talk about when to use quotes. So you'll want to use a quote when the source says something especially important, that may have an impact on audiences. For example, when a governor says that no matter what, taxes will not be raised. And you want to use the quote when a source says something that especially reflects the emotion that they feel but in a tasteful manner not gratuitous, not sensational. For example, a quote from a parent who is grateful to her doctor who save their child's life. That would be emotional. You'll also want to use a quote to show the personality of the subject of your news report. For example a politician maybe publicly promising family values in order to win the election. Yet the politician might be saying things after the microphone is turned off that are directly opposite of what that politician is trying to portray to the public. So, how often should quotes be used? Use them sparingly. They lose their impact if too many quotes are used. When used too often, they don't indicate anything special to the audiences. For example, if your whole story is made up of quotes, then nothing special or nothing important would stand out. Also there would be no need for a reporter if the story is simply a transcript of everything that the source said. Let's talk now about types of quotes. There are direct quotes, partial quotes and indirect quotes or paraphrases. What's a direct quote? This is the exact words of the source placed in quote marks. This is verbatim. Audience can trust that none of the words are changed. For example quote, the slaughter of these villagers was an act of mindless terrorism, unquote, said President Buhari. A second type of quote is a partial quote, and this is when the reporter uses just a few words or a key phrase that is placed within quote marks. If the word or phrase does not give your news report special meaning, then don't quote it. So here's an example of a partial quote. The bombing of the village was quote, mindless terrorism, unquote, said President Buhari. A third type of quote is an indirect quote or paraphrase. This is when reporters use their own words to re-word what source said. For example, the destruction of the village was a result of terrorism according to President Buhari. An indirect quote or paraphrase is also best when a source may rumble or get off topic, or trail into a long explanation that you really don't need and will confuse your audiences. Now let's discuss the format of a quote, let's discuss the punctuation mechanics and also introducing the quote. So, punctuation and mechanics, for a quote that is about a sentence long simply put everything inside the quote marks and attribute afterward. If it is a long quote, then place the attribution after the first sentence, give the person's name and title and then continue with the quote. For example, quote, the use of medical mobile apps is putting more information into people's hands and helping them to take better control of their health, unquote, said hospital administrator Mika Kumar. Open quote, many people live in villages that are far away from the nearest clinic. If the villagers use their smartphones to access e-health mobile apps, then they will be able to get treatment immediately. Close quote. How should reporters introduce a quote? Well, it's the reporter's job to set up this quote for audiences and when introducing a quote, the reporter usually summarizes what the source is about to say. But reporters do not use the same words that are in the quote, it wastes space. So here's an example of how to introduce a quote. In the story the reporter has said, protest leaders said their intent was to have a peaceful protest. Quote, we worked hard to make this a non-violent demonstration, close quote, said Zhou Peng, a graduate student who led the protest. Open quote, I am happy that it was successful in getting the attention of the governor, close quote. So how do you handle attribution when you quote individuals? Where should you put the source's name? Does it go before the quote, does it go after the quote? Well, it's different if you're writing for an audiences eyes, such as they're reading text or digital online. Or, if you're writing for their ears, such as in broadcast. In all reports it is more important to know what was said than who said it. In a written report, you will put first the quote and then the attribution. In broadcast, again what is being said is usually more important. So putting the sources name first helps to alert the audience that a quote is something important coming up. When you attribute avoid personification. Attribute only to people, not to animals, buildings, cars or other inanimate objects. So for example, this first sentence is incorrect. The hospital said the victim was in intensive care. We need to improve that and say, the spokes person for Saint Joseph's hospital said the victim was in intensive care. Also when you attribute, avoid editorializing. Reporters are specific to tell audiences how they know something. So here's another example. This is incorrect. The gunman acted in self-defense. Really? How does the reporter know this? It's because the gunman said so. So, here's how you would correct that sentence. The gunman said he acted in self-defense. And before we leave this area of attribution, let me talk about anonymous attribution. That's to be avoided at all costs. People need to be held accountable for what they say. And your audience members need to know who said what. So here's some other advice about quotes. Never change a quote. Audiences trust and believe that when you use a quote mark, you are saying that these are the actual words of the source. If you are tempted to change a quote, or maybe, I don't know, grammatical errors, colloquialisms, or accents, profanities, or maybe cursing, then use a partial quote or an indirect quote instead. Before we leave this module, let's talk about the word said. Just keep using that one verb. Audiences don't mind, and it's a standard. It also helps you from editorializing. So don't say that the source cried out, or shouted, or murmured, or whispered, or any other verb. Because then your audience members might attach a different meaning. [MUSIC]
