Unit overview: Shorthand
From court to council, from interview to soundbite — shorthand is the quickest, safest and most accurate method of recording what was said.
You may ask why, when we have digital technology these days, journalists remain committed to this traditional skill?
Digital voice recorders have a place but they cannot be used everywhere and retrieval of that all-important quote is often cumbersome. Background noise frequently renders recordings incoherent and unusable, to say nothing of the flat battery scenario, leaving the recorder on the kitchen table when you head out to an interview, or even accidentally flushing it down the loo!
The fact is, that copy produced from shorthand notes is often of a consistently higher quality than that produced by a recorder — better still, recognised shorthand notes are admissible as evidence in court and can save your reputation (and your job!) where someone disputes your reporting.
In short, shorthand is safe, legal and reliable as well as being fast and accurate. It puts interview subjects at ease in a way that a recording device does not, widens vocabulary and enhances your listening skills to really appreciate not just what is being said, but the subtext of what is said or indeed, not said. It also gives students a greater appreciation of, and ability to, decode nuanced statements or press releases.
This is why journalism students do at least one year of Teeline shorthand as part of two first year units (Academic and Professional Skills/Current Affairs) and take the first of their NCTJ examinations in this subject. Single Honours students will do shorthand for two years and are required to take their higher professional NCTJ qualifications in the subject.
You will cover the theory and practice of shorthand and gradually improve your speed and accuracy over the course. You do not even need to have done any shorthand at all before you start your degree. The ‘real world’ emphasis in the teaching of shorthand at Portsmouth gives you an immediate ‘edge’ when you enter the workplace.
Our shorthand strategy gives everyone the opportunity to meet (and potentially exceed) the industry standard of 100wpm, which not only gives you an important journalistic skill, but increases both your job prospects and your market value in an extremely competitive sector.
Shorthand is a highly transferable skill. It can be used any time, any place, anywhere and for any purpose. Invaluable (and for print routes into journalism, essential) it is also a highly desirable tool for PR and Marketing professionals, and many other associated fields — yes, even digital content!
An NCTJ Shorthand Certificate at 100wpm or more underlines your credibility as a journalist, gives employers confidence in the accuracy of your reporting, and demonstrates the determination, precision and tenacity required of a professional journalist, whatever their field. So never underestimate the power and usefulness of fast and accurate shorthand!
