Wed, 11 Sep 2002 -- Media Matters No. 15:
Did I say that? Don't be so sure you didn't.

The truth is people talk differently than they write. This is especially true in academia. Not many people actually talk the way a research report is written or a scientific paper is presented.

OK: You've been interviewed by a news reporter about your latest research findings. When the story comes out, you may be shocked to see your own words in print. The written transcript or direct quotes "look different" than the spoken word sounds. There is no way around this! It is similar to hearing an audiotape of your voice. How many of us have said, "I don't sound like that!"

Sometimes reporters do make mistakes. But more often than not, the perception of inaccuracy can be traced back to the fact that people talk differently than they write. And people talk differently in a conversation (which is what an interview with a reporter is) than when they're making a presentation from a written document.

Not too long ago, we sent a transcript of an audiotape to someone who had participated in a news briefing we did on the "Definitions of Disability" (online at http://www.accessiblesociety.org/topics/demographics-identity/census2000.htm). He wrote back jokingly about what he had said at the briefing. "Did I say that?" he asked. He wasn't misquoted, but the written transcript looked different to him than what he remembered saying.

Research terminology can be very technical. The reporter needs to understand it himself in order to be able to convey it to the general public. The reporter expects you to explain your work in easily understandable language. Do not expect the reporter to spend her time breaking down the concepts and learning every nuance of your topic.

This piece -- the translation of technical language and concepts -- is the source of much misunderstanding. When a reporter is working on a story, there often isn't much time -- not like in a university setting, where colleagues read and discuss work in progress, giving the researcher time to re-think and re-write. Reporters just don't have time to call back and go over a story line by line. Only in rare instances do they call back to check quotes -- and that is not a practice many news outlets encourage. If I promise to call you back and can't reach you, I will not be able to use your part of the story. Many reporters quickly learn to tape conversations that they might use, so they can preserve accuracy and at the same time meet deadlines.

The thing to remember is that reporters want to get it right while making their stories readable at a sixth-grade level. Try explaining your work to your 11-year-old. Do they understand it?

Rather than fretting about the exact words of your quotes, check that the meaning is accurate. If it explains your research to a general audience in a way that will help them understand the topic, then your message has been communicated. And, after all, that's the goal we all seek in dealing with the media.

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