Use Tape Recorder...Yes or No

This is the best way to go. Saves time and guarantees accuracy.

 

Kansas law plays it pretty loose. We do know that in a conversation, only one person has to be aware that it's being recorded. But when I talk to someone for the first time, I tell them I'm using a recorder to make sure I get everything right and they're usually OK with it. If they were going to be uncomfortable with a recorder, it seems to me they were going to be equally uncomfortable without it because it's the interview itself that's got them nervous, not the recorder.

I started out using tape as a backup but took notes as well since it was a pain to fast-forward and go back through the tape. My first digital recorder stunk because the controls weren't sensitive enough and the record light was in the top next to the microphone, so the person I was interviewing could see the light was on but I couldn't. I lost a few interviews because I couldn't see the record light wasn't on. So I went back to tape but the last time I had a recorder kick the bucket, I went with another digital recorder because the local stores didn't sell the tape recorders anymore. These are a different brand and work much better. The index function saves a lot of time because I can note that an interesting quote is in "chapter 2".

However, my writing hand has become arthritic, so I'm finding myself dependent on hoping the batteries don't go dead because after three or four hours of charting football or a basketball doubleheader, I can't write any more without a good deal of pain.

 

I think SF_Express pretty much nailed it on the head, but I know I need to be versatile. I know that if I did four interviews after a game on a recorder, it might take some time to filter out the bad stuff. On a notepad, though, I can quickly reference and throw a quote in.

I know a lot of people can say they haven't had a recorder fail on them, but you never know what's going to happen. Mine failed in the middle of the interview and I didn't realize until afterward. I had to call the coach once I got back to the office.

Ideally, I'm doing a mixture of recording and note taking. Recorder it all and jot down the most noteworthy in the notepad, as well as key times on the recorder. I do this at times, but sometimes I just use the recorder. That's why I'm actively trying to get better at just using a notepad.

 

When on very, very tight deadlines -- I'm talking, I've got the story done and just need to plug in two quotes to hit first edition -- I go off my notes. But it should be pointed out that, if you're writing down recorder times or setting indices, it can be very quick to transcribe key quotes off a recorder. I've been able to sit down and write a 600-word game story in 20-30 minutes, including time spent transcribing the three or four quotes I used, without having any running copy.

I would say you're being very hyperbolic about that. Not every single athlete uses "um," "like," "er" or "well." But I absolutely cut out a lot of bullshit. Still, when someone says something controversial, you both want to have them on recorder and you want to make sure your printed quote is as accurate as possible. Depending on the context, it can even add color to a key quote to include some of those stutters.

 

I was indeed being hyperbolic, but my point is that very few (no?) people are quoted 100 percent accurately, ever, if you go zero-tolerance for every word being exactly the same as uttered.

 

Which is really all I was saying earlier.

 

I only use a written notes for facts - dates, names, records, etc. I get all that stuff out of the way then say, "Now let me get some comments" and switch exclusively to the recorder. I used to take pretty good written notes, but now there is no way I can read my own writing trying to keep up with people. I go back and look and thinks "Now why in the crap does Jeff Gordon want a smoking goat to tap dance in his pit box on Wednesday?"

I know a guy who is a 100 percent verbatim no cleaning up quote no matter what person. He put in every errrr, yeaaaah, ummmm, weellll that there was even to the point of starting a quote with "That's a good question (his own name)...."

 

I like having the name spelling and everything on recording so I can always reference it, actually, and double check my facts.

Also, I know it was probably just an off-hand example, but this is where a recorder becomes absolutely necessary: when interviewing the Jeff Gordons of the world. If it's a one-on-one, you're lucky and in rare position and better not miss anything. If it's not, you don't want to be the guy who got the key quote wrong because you didn't record.

 

Had an elderly gent chew me out for not writing enough in my notepad while interviewing him. Went on an elderly rant about young people and technology and how it's just stupid to rely on a tape recorder. Then he said "There's no way you get it all right using that thing!"

Somehow this also got on the subject of GPS vs. standard maps.

I wasn't really sure what to say back to any of it. He swore he'd not answer anymore questions unless I was writing as he did.

So I doodled. Went home. Transcribed the thing. Wrote the story.

I've also been interviewed before, also by an elderly gent (a different one) who used a notepad and only a notepad. Talked with him for an hour. Mostly it took forever because he spent half the time writing. Made me think of my very first sportswriting assignment ever. Spent half the time doing the same exact thing. Could tell the athlete was getting irritated. Actually let him go and told him I'd just catch him after he got out of the locker room. Felt like a total tool.

Never did an interview without a tape recorder again. I still take notes. You have to. But yes, let technology make your life easier. That's why it's there.

 

Here's a secret: when I use a tape recorder I still dont get every word exactly right, because when I transcribe I just whip through at normal
Speed, rarely stopping to play something back. I obviously will if the quote is tricky or something sensitive that I want to exactly right.

Usually, though I don't have the patience to make sure he said "When he's in the lineup, we're a better team" or "when he's in the lineup, we're just a much better team."

As an aside, at my new job we have interns who will transcribe for you. Normally I feel guilty subjecting them to such dreadful work instead of something that actually may help them, but once I had this gal do it. She had every single "um" and "er" in there. Kinda funny actually.

 

The voice recorder on my Droid is really good for interviews. The only time it sucks is during a windy day or at a race with cars going by on a track (but I find places to interview people and cut down that noise).

I mis-quoted a cross country coach and never heard the end of it from him. It's frickin' high school cross country, but still... went right out the next day and got a recorder.

Can't wait for the day someone tries to tell me "I never said that" and I can go "Oh yes, you did!"

 

Not trying to threadjack...but to add to your story of old people vs. technology. Our intern wrote the obit feature for today's paper. She had missed that the woman died at a nursing home and not a hospital. An older copy editor caught that and wanted to look it up to verify. The intern grabbed her laptop and started to google it. The copy editor got mad and started bitching about how she didn't use a phone book to look it up.
Guess who got the info faster?
Technology 1, Old fart 0