The Digital Age Question
With smartphones recording every interview and AI tools transcribing audio in minutes, a common question in 2025 is: do journalists still need shorthand?
The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is yes — and here’s why.
Situations Where Shorthand Beats Technology
Court and Parliament Restrictions
Mobile phones and recording devices are banned in many court proceedings and legislative sessions. A journalist covering court beats relies entirely on shorthand notes.
Battery and Connectivity Failures
Recorders die. Networks drop. Shorthand never fails.
Speed of Note-Taking in Press Conferences
When a minister makes a key statement and you need the exact words — shorthand captures it faster and more accurately than trying to type on a phone.
Off-the-Record Conversations
Sources often speak candidly only when they don’t see a recording device. Shorthand is invisible note-taking.
Shorthand in Indian Journalism
Many experienced journalists in Delhi’s press corps still use shorthand — particularly those covering Parliament, courts, and political beats. The Press Trust of India (PTI) and major Hindi dailies historically valued shorthand-trained reporters.
Learning Recommendation for Journalists
You don’t need 100 WPM for journalism purposes. 60–70 WPM is enough to capture most speech with reasonable accuracy.
Focus on:
- Common journalistic vocabulary in outlines
- Political and legal terminology
- Practice with news bulletin dictation
Our dictation practice section includes general passage dictation perfect for journalists.