Shorthand: which is best?

Madd Finn

Is it worthwhile learning shorthand?

I have been conducting interviews using a digital recorder for a project I've undertaken and find transcribing from recording a major pain.

Is shorthand still used and if so what is the best version for recording the main points of an interview? I don't mean verbatim court reporting, which I believe uses a stenotype machine anyway. But for interviewing subjects what's best? Is Pitmans still the standard? Or is there a more modern better method?

Mr. K

I learnt Gregg's Shorthand in a Journalism Masters last year. If you don't like transcribing from recordings, it's a good alternative. It takes lots of practice though!

Morlar

I learned Pittmans years ago, I think it is a useful skill generally.

Madd Finn

I've just got a "Teach yourself Pitmans" book and am trying it out but I find the difference between light and heavy lines and dots really hard to achieve. Especially with a biro. Would a pencil be better?

Or are other methods easier to learn.

I'm guessing there's no gain without a hell of a lot of pain :mad:

Bucklesman

I find a light felt-tip pen best; these ones are good too.

Michael O Toole

I use Teeline every day. I learned it in Scotland in 1993/1994 and it has proved invaluable. There are several places where you cannot use a recorder - such as a court.
And sometimes interviewees get twitchy when you pull out a recorder; a notepad and pen is often less intimidating.