Journalists need transcription that's fast, accurate, and secure. The wrong tool can compromise sources or slow down your reporting.
What Journalists Need
- Source protection: Audio should never touch third-party servers
- Speed: Same-day turnaround for breaking stories
- Accuracy: Quotes must be exact
- Timestamps: Navigate long interviews quickly
Cloud vs Local
Cloud transcription services are convenient but create security risks. Your interview with a whistleblower shouldn't live on someone else's server. Local transcription keeps everything on your machine.
Interview Transcription Tips
- Record in a quiet environment when possible
- Use a directional microphone pointed at the subject
- State the date and subject at the start for your records
- Back up audio before transcription
Handling Difficult Audio
- Phone interviews: Record both sides clearly
- Press conferences: Use Whisper Large for distant audio
- Multiple speakers: Note speaker changes manually
- Accents: Whisper handles accents well
Workflow for Breaking News
- Record interview on phone or recorder
- Transfer to laptop immediately
- Run through local transcription
- Pull quotes while reading transcript
- Verify quotes against audio timestamps
Protect Your Sources
Sotto keeps interviews local. No cloud uploads, no third-party access. $29 once.
Get Sotto