Interview transcription for journalists: accuracy without losing context
Best practices for turning interviews into text, verifying quotes, and protecting source material.
An interview is more than a collection of sentences. Tone, sequence, and context matter. Transcription speeds up discovery, but editorial responsibility remains with the person who publishes.
Protect the original source
Keep the unedited audio and work from a copy. Use consistent file names and record the date, location, participants, and consent conditions.
Treat the transcript as a navigation tool. Before publishing a quote, return to the audio to confirm the words, intent, and any interruptions.
Review names and sensitive details
Automated systems can fail on the details that matter most. Use a checklist before finalizing the text.
- Proper names and job titles.
- Places, numbers, and dates.
- Technical or regional terms.
- Moments where the speaker changes.
Find stories inside the conversation
Once the interview is text, search for repeated themes, contradictions, and examples. Mark candidate quotes and separate verifiable facts from opinions.
For sensitive material, review storage policies and providers. Convenience should never replace the security judgment required by the reporting.
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