Welcome to the
Teeline Shorthand Journalism page. This is an accompanying resource
for the Teeline course provided to MA Journalism and MA Radio Students
in the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths College.
On these web pages
you get basic advice on how to learn the system, Real Audio sound
files and graphics for exercises.
We have provided
a teaching structure so that you practice with the vocabulary and
style of spoken English which is relevant for the practice of modern
journalism.
Teeline is a shorthand
system which depends on a combination of 'short term' memory and written
outlines that are derived mainly from consonants. Vowels are hardly
ever indicated. It is a very useful skill in all areas of journalistic
practice. It aids accuracy. It builds confidence in your own professionalism.
It generates trust with your interviewees. It increases the speed
and efficiency of your reporting. It widens your career opportunities
since shorthand writing reporters are more likely to be given the
responsibility of covering sensational and newsworthy trials, enquiries
and tribunals.
The alphabet is
based on outlines which use the minimum of effort in writing strokes,
are similar to traditional handwriting and move in a left to right
motion.
In order to acquire
and develop this skill you will need to work and practice at it for
between 20 and 30 minutes each day. It has to be a daily practice
because bunching it all up into 1 day at the end of a week will not
be effective.
I recommend using
a reporter's notebook with lined pages. Use a pencil, biro or fountain
pen with a thin nib and which has a smooth run over the surface of
the paper. You also need to make a margin on the left of about 2 to
3 inches in which you make your Teeline outlines. The other side of
the page (on the right) is used for transcribing your shorthand into
longhand.
Follow the sound
drills that come with the Teeline character outlines and practice
using the sound and graphics in this resource.
I start you with
slow and memorable quotations which introduce new shortcuts and special
outlines for commonly used words and gradually you will build up to
trying out entire passages.
Because the audio
files are always here you can go back to the drills and practice passages
and with daily practice you will be on your way to having a very useful
skill.
Listen to all
the following Real Audio files and practice the exercises:
AUDIO
FILE 1
AUDIO
FILE 2
AUDIO
FILE 3
AUDIO
FILE 4
AUDIO
FILE 5
AUDIO
FILE 6
AUDIO
FILE 7
AUDIO
FILE 8
AUDIO
FILE 9
AUDIO
FILE 10
AUDIO
FILE 11
Now have a look
at the graphic versions to see how you did.
We also have a
transcript of all the sound files in case you're having difficulty
with the Real Audio.
More
drills - longer passages to test your Shorthand skills
For
your essential Teeline for Journalists guide, written specifically
with your needs in mind, visit the website at www.heinemann.co.uk/Teelineforjournalists.
