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Would you use this quote?

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by BillyT, Dec 4, 2011.

  1. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    I think I a becoming a cranky old man, but I do not think I am going to use this quote. (I may paraphrase).

    County budget passes, crusty town supervisor stands up and says, "Eighty percent of the budget is unfunded mandates. We're just bending over and taking it with the unfunded mandates. All we are doing is eating ourselves."
     
  2. 93Devil

    93Devil Well-Known Member

    I would not use it.

    Think of all the potential headaches that could come from running it. I like the "eating ourselves" quote much better.
     
  3. Johnny Dangerously

    Johnny Dangerously Well-Known Member

    Maybe he meant a spanking.
     
  4. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    BillyT, as good as it is, I don't think I'd use the quote, either, just to spare myself the inevitable phone call from readers and/or an editor. I think I'd probably paraphrase but keep the kicker.

    Supervisor Jones was clearly frustrated by the outcome of the vote, estimating that 80 percent of the budget is attached to unfunded mandates.
    "All we are doing is eating ourselves," Jones said.
     
  5. mediaguy

    mediaguy Well-Known Member

    Can't use the quote. Not a metaphor you want to encourage. End of story.
     
  6. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    Thanks.

    I had decided not to use it. I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track.

    The daily reporter at the meeting tweeted it.

    I find myself going back and forth, because I read a lot of papers and blogs, and of course there are different standards everywhere.
     
  7. Fredrick

    Fredrick Well-Known Member

    Depends if your competitor is running it. The lazy suits might think you "got beat" on a story if you didn't run the quote and the competition did.
     
  8. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    He's not missing the story. He's choosing different quotes.

    You're making no sense.
     
  9. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    He might get in trouble for choosing to have standards in this day and age, though.
     
  10. Frank_Ridgeway

    Frank_Ridgeway Well-Known Member

    Policy here is that we run such language past a glass office, and they decide on a case-by-case basis. Very subjective judgment process here. I don't always agree with the outcome, but I do like our policy of not having a blanket rule. My guess is we'd probably run it.
     
  11. JR

    JR Well-Known Member

    Run it. He said it, didn't he?

    If readers complain, give them the phone number of the town supervisor.

    However, I think Frank's paper's policy is correct.
     
  12. JimmyHoward33

    JimmyHoward33 Well-Known Member

    if its already been Tweeted you almost have to run it, so as not to look like you're shilling for the guy and protecting him from himself.

    Generally, though, I agree with Frank's policy and would probably lean towards what reformedhack said. Keep the kicker, might not need the bending over.
     
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