After battling homelessness for 10 years, Todd Hill, 41, a decorated Marine who fought in the first Gulf War, found an apartment and a job as a security guard. But his newfound stability did not last.

Richard Berke, an assistant managing editor of The New York Times; Diego Ribadeneira, a weekend metro editor and Lizette Alvarez, a reporter, offered pointers on how to obtain good quotes for great stories.