Official blog of Clark's Blogging for Journalists class, Mass Communication department

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Using quotations--have you made "eye" contact with your reader?



Quotes are eye contact. No eye contact, no story

  • ·      A story without quotes isn’t much of a story, no matter the subject, for it lacks a human angle.
  • Nothing involves a reader more with a person than hearing them talk, reading their words.
  • ·      Readers’ eyes automatically go to quotation marks.
  • ·      Above all you use good quotes, quotes that are not long, but get to the point, that are original, that show passion and character and insight.
  • ·      Accuracy is the prime rule. Everyone is afraid of being misquoted. You must assure your subject of your accuracy.
  • ·      Paraphrase long quotes, ordinary quotes. “Clark said that quotes are important.”
  • ·      Find your best quote—use it high in the story.
  • ·      Save you second best quote for a possible conclusion, or near the end of the story.
  • ·      Quotes start paragraphs.

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