Do we really need shorthand these days?
Thanks to the contributor who raised the following points and questions:
Do reporters really need shorthand in this day and age? An age of hi-tech wizardry and miniature digital recording devices?
I understand that its pretty much mandatory to get 100wpm to get a reporting job in the UK - but in the US it's not and you have loads of trainee reporters starting their careers without shorthand. I think they only learn shorthand if they are inclined to do so - and many are not.
What do you reckon? Shorthand's days are numbered?
My personal view is a little old fashioned - shorthand has survived thousands of years and it's got a few more years left.
You're right to point out that the requirements for getting a reporting job in the UK and US are different. You do need shorthand to get a newspaper reporting job in the UK - and for good reason, too.
First, an editor has an element of legal leverage if a reporter is accused of making up a quote (which is often levied at reporters when those involved in stories don't like their words printed in black and white). The editor can check his reporter's shorthand note, waive a certificate that his employee has 100wpm if needed and shorthand notes tend to carry a good deal of weight as evidence in libel cases (as long as they stand up to scrutiny).
Secondly, you can take a shorthand notebook and pen/pencil pretty much anywhere, write outside, in cramped conditions etc and you don't have to worry about digital storage space or power supply.
Thirdly - and I've occasionally used electronic recording devices for contentious news stories - navigating a shorthand notebook to find the quotes you're looking for is far easier than scanning tape or digital recordings.
Fourthly, you can't take recording devices into courts in the UK - so you're dependent on note-taking the old fashioned way.
Finally, I've found note books don't intimidate interviewees as much as placing a recording device in the middle of a table.
So, to sum up, shorthand is more reliable, you're able to use it in court and provides an easier system for finding the notes you're looking for than its hi-tech counterpart.
But what do you think? Email me or post a comment...
5 Comments:
But what about the advances in voice recognition technology. Okay, so you've got to train them up to learn your voice but soon they might be able to capture anybody's voice with 99 per cent accuracy and them you could could wire them up to a computer and get a print-out.
Technology today is great but it can let you down when you need it most. One of shorthand's greatest advantages (and I can wax lyrical about the rest if you want!) is that you can use it anywhere - no need to wire anything up, position someone so their voice is heard correctly, plug anything in, remember to charge batteries etc - you're up and running as soon as you've got your pad and pen out. Hassle free, I reckon!
I agree totally with the most recent entrant - simple skills stand the test of time, technology doesn't. And even if technology does offer great things, it's just an extra not a replacement. Hopefully a little bit like the human mind in the age of computing.
Don't know if anyone is still reading this. I've been a reporter now for 5 years and my biggest single frustration is not being able to take shorthand. Sure I use my recorder but then you have to transcrib it all. If you get someone with a heavy accent as I get a lot down here in McAllen, Texas, you have to play it over and over again to understand. I am looking for a place on line I could take a quick???!!! course in shorthand for reporter's if indeed there is such a thing. If no one reads this at least I got my frustration out. I miss so much by not having shorthand.
Hi Roda - thanks for posting your message airing your frustration about the state of shorthand amongst journalists in the US. As a reporter in the UK, I can't imagine working without it. Every call I take, every meeting I cover and every interview I carry out is all captured in one of my many hundreds of shorthand notebooks.
If you're wanting to learn online there's a few excellent resources out there for you.
First though, you'd have to decide which kind of shorthand you'd want to learn.
In the UK, we all learn Teeline. And there's a complete course available online at http://www.geocities.com/coursesite/teeline.htm
This is absolutely excellent and is roughly as good as any textbook out there! To build your speed, we recommend WaveMedia's speedMax discs which are available from our disc shop.
If you wanted to learn Gregg - which is the favourite in the US - there are a number of free online textbooks at http://gregg.angelfishy.net/
and you'll be able to get the support and advice you need at:
http://groups.msn.com/GreggShorthand/
The group - of which I am a member - is one of the friendliest and most supportive you could wish for. Sign up and start learning!
However, you'll have to be motivated and stick with it as it is always harder to learn on your own and on-line (I'm learning Gregg on my own) than in a class environment. But good luck!
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