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Why I Am Not Journalist!

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I love to write.  I love to do research.  I love to read.  So, why am I not a journalist?  Because I love to write, but I read much better.

Seriously, though –

Because your job is harder than mine.

You are given or come up with a topic.  You work hard to find the right resources and work out a schedule to interview those resources and gather all the necessary information and make a powerful,  informative article that people will want to read.  Sounds easy to some, but I know better.

The topic must be something that you are familiar with, interested in, or can at least relate to.  Or for those who just have wonderful skills, be able to KNOW how to sponge the information from various research for use in a fabulous paper for print.

Resources can be anyone.  Can ramble so badly that you want to shout – GET TO THE POINT, or worse, could answer your questions without really answering your questions. Occasionally the smooth, precise, clear speaker is found, but it is a rarity. (trust me, this I do know.)

Scheduling the interviews – Resources can schedule the interview and change ten minutes before it was to begin, as if their time is the only time to consider, or can start the interview and have to go due to some conflicting appointment after just 5 minutes, or even want to do the interview so early in the morning or middle of the night – just because they can.  Others just want to talk to hear themselves talk and can go on and on and on.  For these however, many of you have your interview stopping statement to bring it to a close, and are so charming when you use it.

Those items can be tough enough, but what’s worse is when you are interviewing someone who is so arrogant, uninteresting, incoherent, or a double talker.  Someone who assumes you know nothing at all, questions your abilities and knowledge and lets you know it.  Or someone who said they could help you in your mission for a really good story and you find out they really have nothing at all. For example, you asked about really great marble to use in a bathroom remodel and they talk about port-a-potties.  You know what I mean.  And many of you are so diplomatic that you find something – anything – this person has talked about in order to say it was not a wasted appointment.

And then there are times the interview goes well.  You have what you need and you find that you did the entire 50 minute interview and forgot to turn on your recorder, or it malfunctions during the interview (or after), or your computer crashes and you lose the entire kit and caboodle.

All of this is just the items I can decipher from transcribing your interviews.  All of this is what amazes me when I see your final product after publication and am amazed how wonderful it is.  Your job is much harder than mine.

I just transcribe the interviews and other material.  If I had to deal with just that kind of “stuff” I would probably be unemployed from saying something like “hey, Buddy, do me a favor and just answer the damn question.  And while you’re at it, can you pay attention to what you are responding to and stop eating or calling out to your friends who are walking by as you talk to me,  and hey buddy – the phone works better when you talk into it.  Can you get any closer to the man yelling in the background, I am not hearing what he is so mad about.  I was ready yesterday for our 10 a.m. appointment and you changed it to 3 a.m. so how about pay attention to the questions so I can go back to bed.”

Me, I can sit here, transcribe your audio, and smile…better you than me.  I will just wait for you to go to print and see how amazing you made the information into something that others can understand and draw from.

That is why I am not a journalist.  I am just a transcriptionist, here to type your audio, help you meet your deadlines and watch you take all that hard work you do and make an article worth reading, sharing, and discussing for months and months.

Better you than me.   I will stick to reading your articles thus remaining employed.

Make plans to attend the ASJA 2012.   Conference in NYC.  There you can share other wonderful stories and find ways to deal with the stresses and absurdities of your profession that you love so much.

https://www.clktranscription.com

Why is a Great US Transcriptionist Important? I Will Tell You Why.

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In this day and age, many professionals find the process of having their words transcribed in an accurate and detailed manner one of the toughest parts of their profession.  Many US professionals feel that off-shoring the audio for transcription is cost-effective, however the accuracy is lost due to the misunderstanding of the English language and the various manners in which people speak. They may save money on the transcription, but place more time and money into the editing of the transcripts.

Those in the medical field are finding that insurance companies and hospital administrators are demanding all items be dictated and transcribed, documenting every treatment, decision and prescription.  Having this completed and documented in the patient’s chart in a timely fashion is pertinent to the care and treatment of patients for several reasons:

In dealing with patients who have any type of disorder, having the written document of instructions, treatment plan etc helps the physician know that their patient understands what is going on in their care after they leave the appointment.  It affords the physician the knowledge that he has covered all bases available and given the detailed instructions, assisting in any liability claims he may come across in the future.  It allows all parties involved to document and review care given and projected treatment and assessments of the patient so that other medical professionals do not have to redo testing and treatments that may have already been done.

A journalist/writer/author must have their audio transcribed clearly and accurately so the truth in their work is unquestionable and forthright.  Transcribing  this audio accurately not only gives the author the ability to use the words and develop a terrific story, but it also shows the “flavor” of the spoken word and the attitude, and even in some cases the experience of the speaker, allowing the author/writer to “showcase” that in their work.

A great transcriptionist will take the audio of a client, tape or electronically recorded, and develop their reports noting every detail that has been dictated.  They will review the transcripts and if there appears to be a “problem” (example – medication dose, frequency, name of source, or inaudible word/phrase, etc) they will transcribe what is dictated but will flag this for the client to review.  They will review and proof their work so that the client can then review and verify accuracy and completeness, possibly finding a “hole” in the story and be able to follow through.

A great transcriptionist takes pride in their abilities and spends a lot of time and money to hone their trade and continue the learning process as well as maintain their equipment and programs to stay on top of the demanding needs of their clients.

A great US transcriptionist is important to our US clients in order to provide the best possible project, and the ability to negotiate our rates to accommodate  our clients is just part of what a great transcriptionist considers part of their job.

If you haven’t tried a US Transcriptionist lately, maybe you should.  We are here and we are not going anywhere…

https:www.clktranscription.com

Confidentiality. If you abuse it, are you willing to pay the price?

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This is an important topic for me, as in my business, it means everything.  We transcribe what we hear, and generate a fine report for our clients, but if we were to take that information and announce it to the world, what would be the sense in bothering with returning to and billing the client at all

Our client’s work would be a waste of time.

Some think the word and the meaning behind it is a legal play to cover-up whatever they are not entitled to know.  Some hear the word confidential and think it makes what they know worth more to others and are willing to sell it for a price. Others hear the word and find ways to turn information into rumors, using it to personally sway the thoughts of others to one side or another, not allowing a fair opinion be developed on the issues.  And then, well, some just don’t think at all.

If taking a position where confidentiality is expected, even without a document stating so, use common sense that the information is confidential due to the consequences of incomplete, inaccurate information being leaked, or the leakage of confidential material being the destruction of someone else’s work – just to get started.

Just because you know something, doesn’t mean it is your responsibility to share this information with others.

So, before you share, care.  Think about what the outcome will be when speaking on an item that belongs – yes belongs – to someone else.

It is not secret.  It is not a cover-up.  It is a matter of business.  It is a matter of responsibility.  It is a matter of morality.  It’s a matter of professionalism.

Confidential information is confidential for a reason.  Spilling the beans could and most often does, have some sort of monetary recourse for everyone involved.  Are you willing to pay the fee?

At CLK Transcription, we offer every client, from the student to the journalist to the corporations, a confidentiality agreement.   We also deal with clients who understand the importance of confidentiality and respect the meaning themselves.
We believe that if you don’t respect your own work, how will anyone ever respect yours.

www.clktranscription.com