Survey on Use of Quotes by
Agricultural Communicators
Bob Rost
Carol Savonen
Andy Duncan
In public-information work writers may modify or generate direct quotes for news releases (non-verbatim quotes). In contrast, journalistic news writing traditionally uses verbatim quotes. How do land-grant communicators say they use quotes?
Survey data (sent to 50 randomly-selected land grant news writers, response rate 80 percent) indicate the majority (79 percent) said they use non-verbatim quotes at some time. They do so with the understanding that the quotes will be checked with the source before release. Ninety-two percent reported their communications office had no official policy about the use of non-verbatim quotes.
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