More recently – some 5-6 years ago – in everyday journalistic work, a professional reporter had to use an analog voice recorder with a "tape" way of recording and storing speech information. Those times, fortunately, have sunk into oblivion, and now analog devices can only be found in antique shops or with absolutely “retrograde" journalists. With the advent of digital audio recording devices on the market, the daily activities of a reporter have been dramatically simplified. From now on, comments and statements recorded by a digital voice recorder can be freely “transferred” to the hard drive of a stationary or tablet computer. In this form, records can be stored for as long as you like, and, if necessary, used as indisputable evidence in court proceedings, which, unfortunately, are not uncommon in reporting activities.
Transformation and transcription of digital audio recording
Perhaps the most important problem in the use of dictaphone recordings in reporter practice is the "transformation" of audio into text form. Most often, such a translation is required in electronic text form, since the layout of newspapers and filling the websites of news agencies requires mobility and convenience. In recent years, special programs have appeared that greatly facilitate and automate this process.
Most often, such software is supplied on a disk complete with the recording device itself. Naturally, you can try to find a suitable program for converting audio to text on the Internet, but you need to be prepared for the fact that such software is usually paid (and very expensive), and there are also many non-working programs. But, in any case, such an automated way of “texting” speech saves a lot of time and mental resources.
Rules for selecting a working reporter device model
The practical experience of the editors of serious and professional publications allows us to summarize the clear requirements that apply to a working "reporter’s" voice recorder. First, the recording device must be compact, shock-resistant and modern in attractive design. The recorder must have all the necessary connectors so as not to complicate the process of connecting to any type of computer and other devices for storing and processing audio files. The quality of the sound recording itself (including the highest level of noise reduction) in a reporter’s voice recorder should be at the professional level of radio recorders. Plus, the operation of the device must be stable and "bug-free", since information – like reputation – is priceless.