Quoting from press releases

Obviously, I'd prefer to talk to a person directly when I quote them. But I've found there are times in college/pro coverage (typically for between-game notebooks and such) where the only quotes you're going to have time to get are from a release.

With regard to that, I have two questions I thought you guys might be able to help me out with ...

1) If that's the only quote I can get, am I better off just going without a quote if that's possible?
2) If I do use a quote from a release, what would be the best way to attribute it? "Greg Oden is my hero," Joe Blow said, in a press release. "Although I'm pretty sure he secretly pities me."? Is it necessary to say that the quote came from a release?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

 

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Just wanted to confirm I was going in the right direction. Much thanks.

 

I don't use them.

 

Always attribute a canned quote to a statement or news release. Postgame quote sheets are a different animal, though. Acceptable there without attribution, but you need to be careful, because schools/teams will sanitize them.

 

What he said, with my addendum tacked on the end.

 

Yeah, Stitch, I agree. I'm actually trying to avoid it. I may very well be able to but wanted to check and make sure I attributed it correctly if I did end up having to fall back on it.

 

You try not to use them, but in the 24/7 world now, you might have to go with a quote from a release if it's breaking news and you want to get it on the web right away.

Or if it's a situation where a coach/AD or whomever doesn't want to talk, issues a release and disappears.