Audio: Journalists' Toolkit

A training site for multimedia and online journalists

Gathering

• Gathering Audio (2 parts): Part 1: Introduction by Brian Storm and Part 2: A Practical Guide
• Sound in the Story (PDF, 366 KB; 21 pages)

Gear/Tools

• Basic kit: Gear for the multimedia reporter
• Review: Zoom H2 recorder
• Video: How to use the Zoom H2 (1 min. 36 sec.)

Editing

Updated in August 2009!

• Super-Fast Guide to Audio Editing (PDF, 290 KB)
• Editing Audio with Audacity (Part 2) (PDF, 181 KB)
• Setting up preferences in Audacity (PDF, 157 KB) -- preferences must be set BEFORE you open the original audio file in Audacity!

See also: An online tutorial for starting to use Audacity: Many more short Audacity tutorials linked on the left side of this one!

Ethics in Audio Editing

• Ethical guidelines for editing audio: A compact, clear list of do's and don'ts, written by a radio journalist with 13 years experience at CBC Radio News
• Truth in audio: Have you crossed an ethical line?

Interviewing

• Interview Basics (O'Reilly Media)
• Loosening Lips: The Art of the Interview (Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Eric Nalder); also available in a different format at PBS.org

Narration and Voiceovers (VO)

• Preparing yourself to record a voiceover (tips and links)

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