ABSTRACT
While facts may be sacred in journalism, prising information out of people in the form of quotes has gradually become the holy grail. Think of the most banal statement you can imagine – ‘Yes, I did quite enjoy that time I won a million on the lottery’; ‘Yes, I was disappointed that we lost 16-0 after they’d had five players sent off in the first 10 minutes’; ‘No, I don’t like it when people jam red-hot pokers into my bottom on a Friday afternoon, or a Tuesday morning for that matter.’ Chances are, it has been in print at some time over the past quotesobsessed decade. That players now receive media training has done little to unmuddy the waters.
