Using quotes in a news story is an excellent way to hold the reader’s interest and advance the story. Direct quotes provide credibility, particularly when used to document information sources. Studies show that newspaper readers tend to remember articles that contain quotes, especially if the quotes are very colorful. Every word uttered by a source should not be used as a quote, however; and by keeping a few guidelines in mind, you can write an interesting and compelling story.

Review your notes and tapes and pick out potential quotes for your story. At this stage, write down every direct quote you have, whether you think you will use all of them or not. It is easier to have your quotes in one place from the beginning rather than try to search through your information later for that one elusive quote that has suddenly become very important.

Prepare an outline of your story, either on the computer or in your head. Use the outline to determine where to place appropriate quotes. If paragraph two will discuss concerns that the bridge would fail when it was first built, this is the place to include the quote from Johnson saying, “No one listened when I said the trusses couldn’t support the load. They said I was an alarmist. And now look what’s happened.”

Use quotes only if they contain unique information that only your source could say. “The bridge was built in 1974” is a fact, not a unique statement. That fact that the bridge was built in 1974 is on record and can be verified easily.

Balance your use of quotes. If you are reporting a controversial story, try to include a more or less equal number of quotes from each side. This won’t necessarily stop someone from complaining, but at least you will be able to point out that you tried to tell each side of the story.

Use direct quotes to make a boring article come to life. You could paraphrase what your source said and write, “Smith said that she was afraid that her car would fall into the river and she would die,” but it’s much more effective to quote Smith saying, “My car dangled over the edge of the bridge and I was sure I was going to drop right into the river. The water was so close I could see a beer can floating by. Every time my car shook, I was sure I was going to die.”

Save your tapes and notes from interviews. If a quote is ever called into question, you will be glad that you have proof of the interview to show your editor.

Don’t overload the story with quotes. While the use of quotes adds to the story, too many will bog it down and make it difficult to read.