Attribution

Definition

Attribution in journalism refers to the practice of crediting sources for information, quotes, or ideas used in a news story. It's essential for establishing credibility, transparency, and accountability, as it allows readers to trace where the information comes from and understand the context behind it.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Proper attribution is critical for ethical journalism, ensuring that sources are acknowledged and that the reporter maintains integrity.
2. Attribution helps to provide context and perspective, enhancing the overall narrative of the news article by linking back to the source of information.
3. Different formats for attribution exist depending on the style guide being followed (e.g., AP Style, Chicago Manual), which can affect how sources are cited.
4. Using attributions correctly helps prevent plagiarism by clearly differentiating between a journalist's original thoughts and those of their sources.
5. Attribution can also impact legal considerations in journalism; failing to attribute properly may lead to issues related to copyright and fair use.

Review Questions

• How does effective attribution enhance the credibility of a news article?
  • Effective attribution enhances credibility by ensuring that readers know where the information comes from and can evaluate the reliability of those sources. When journalists clearly cite their sources, it builds trust with the audience and reinforces the integrity of the reporting. This transparency allows readers to assess how well-supported the claims made in the article are and encourages responsible journalism.
• Discuss how attribution practices differ when incorporating quotes versus paraphrasing information in journalism.
  • Attribution practices vary between quotes and paraphrasing. When using quotes, journalists must provide exact wording from a source and typically include the person's name along with their title or position. In contrast, paraphrasing involves rephrasing a source's ideas or statements, but attribution is still essential; journalists must acknowledge who provided the original thought even if it's not verbatim. This distinction ensures that credit is given appropriately while maintaining clarity in reporting.
• Evaluate the implications of inadequate attribution in news writing on legal and ethical standards within journalism.
  • Inadequate attribution can have serious legal and ethical implications in journalism. Ethically, failing to attribute sources can lead to accusations of plagiarism, damaging a journalist's reputation and undermining public trust in media. Legally, insufficient attribution may result in copyright infringement issues, as using someone else's ideas without proper credit can violate intellectual property laws. Thus, strong attribution practices are vital for maintaining both ethical standards and legal compliance in journalism.

Related terms

Source: A source is an individual or document that provides information to a journalist, which can be categorized as primary or secondary.

Quote:

A quote is the exact reproduction of someone's spoken or written words, often used to give authority or personal insight to a news story.

Citations: Citations are references to the sources of information used in a work, allowing readers to locate the original material for verification or further exploration.