Note-taking and recording
Sally Adams · 2012
Journalists make notes so they can write accurate stories containing the required mix of facts, colour, background, anecdotes and quotes. They aim to avoid those dread words: ‘There’s been a complaint…’ To make notes they use shorthand, longhand scribble, tape recorder or memory. Which they opt for is a trade-off between what they want from the interview, the skills they possess, the time available and the sensitivity or temperament of the interviewee. For interviewees they know well, journalists can walk in carrying an open notebook. With the elusive or reclusive, they may decide not to bring out a tape recorder until they judge their interviewee has relaxed.