A transcript gives readers another way to follow an audio conversation. It can also help an editor find a quotation or return to a particular point. The important task is preserving meaning while making the written version understandable.
Before transcribing for publication, confirm that you are allowed to use the recording in that way. An interview agreed for one purpose should not automatically be treated as available for every other use.
Establish a consistent format
Identify the speakers and decide how their names will appear. Use timestamps if they will help readers return to the audio, especially in a longer conversation. Explain whether the transcript is verbatim or lightly edited for readability.
Start with a short section, then check it against the recording before continuing. This can reveal a mistaken name or recurring phrase early, rather than repeating the error throughout the document.
Mark uncertainty instead of guessing
Listen again to unclear passages and check names or technical terms with a suitable source. If a word still cannot be established, mark the uncertainty consistently. Do not replace it with a phrase that merely seems plausible.
Automated transcription can be a starting point, but review its output against the recording. Pay particular attention to names, numbers, language changes and negatives such as “not,” which can change the meaning of an answer.
Edit without creating a different answer
If you remove repeated words or false starts, preserve the speaker’s qualifications and intended meaning. Do not combine separate answers in a way that makes them appear to be one continuous statement. Keep a link or reference to the original recording where appropriate.
For a short article based on the interview, select the useful points rather than presenting an edited summary as a complete transcript.
Our radio interview guide covers preparation before recording. For an editorial enquiry about an existing station interview, contact Intsetse FM rather than assuming permission to republish it.