Recording a phone interview

[jasonjones]

Hi guys,
I'm doing my first phone interview with a book writer.

His agent contacted me to write a feature article based on the interview specifically with a Q&A section within said article.

Is it necessary to ask permission at the start of the interview that he's being recorded?
Or that kind of goes without saying?

I don't want to sound like an amateur by asking, but also want to cover legalities.

What is the norm in phone interviews?

 

[cjericho]

Phone recording rules vary, depends on what state.

 

[jasonjones]

In California?

So how is phone interviews transcribed into an article then?

 

[Moderator1]

How are

And don't ask permission but note that you're recording the conversation

 

[jasonjones]

How are

And don't ask permission but note that you're recording the conversation

What do you mean?

 

[Azrael]

California is a two-party consent state, so I think he has to ask the subject.

Just say "Hi, this is Jason, if it's OK with you I'll be recording our conversation today for accuracy. My first question is . . ."

Once you're done recording, either type up the transcript yourself or send it off to a transcription service.

 

[John]

Have never done the transcription service. Is it worth it, financially?

I love long, engaging interviews for feature stories, but goodness after 20 years in the business do I hate transcribing those 30-minute interviews.

 

[Azrael]

Have never done the transcription service. Is it worth it, financially?

I love long, engaging interviews for feature stories, but goodness after 20 years in the business do I hate transcribing those 30-minute interviews.

I think it depends on the publication and the story. If you're being reimbursed expenses, I would always send out transcription work.

I use Rev dot com. It's a dollar per page, and worth every penny.

Record the interview on my iPhone, upload the file to my desktop, send it to Rev. Get it back in a few hours. Couldn't be simpler.

 

[The Big Ragu]

When I was a reporter in another life, I used to do phoners all week long for a column. As someone pointed out, it is a state by state thing as to whether one-party consent or two-party consent is necessary legally. I always started off by saying, "I am going to record this if it is OK with you. It helps me make sure I don't miss anything and that I quote you accurately." I was dealing with Wall Street security analysts for the most part, and 99 percent of them had no problem with it. If they said no, I just took notes. Regardless, I think being up front and asking is the best way to go -- regardless of whether one party or two party consent is the law. Most people -- especially in a relatively innocuous situation like your interview -- will say it is fine.