Last updated on November 26, 2023
When you edit audio, video, or transcripts of recorded conversations, this raises some ethical questions — especially within disability advocacy communities.
I understand that editing the audio and transcripts for The Autistic Me Podcast concerns some advocates. They have valid concerns that editing the audio and/or transcripts removes the authentic voices and mannerisms of individuals from the podcast. If someone has a verbal tick or taps the table or has another noticeable trait that audiences could notice, removing those sounds from a file is removing a part of that individual’s existence.
Denying the complicated choices I am making as a blogger an podcaster would also be a mistake. A podcaster needs to determine which is most important to a single episode: the person or people being interviewed or the information being shared with audiences. Which is more valuable for an audience: capturing the moment as completely as possible or preparing a text and audio file that most effectively transmits information to an audience? Am I trading historical accuracy for efficiency?
I do not make editing choices lightly. Editing an interview alters the reality of the moment, so I had better have a good reason for every cut or correction made to an interview.
Before making any edit to a media file or to a transcript I ask myself:
- Is the sound or utterance “incidental” audio that isn’t unique to the speaker?
- Is the interview mostly about the person or about the information?
- Does the editing improve the clarity of the information for an audience?
I’m more likely to edit a text transcript of an interview than to remove the words and sounds recorded. My assumption is that people reading a transcript seek clarity of the message, more so than a perfect verbatim reality.
Few editors would include the sounds of someone inhaling or exhaling. Editors also remove “um” and “uh” sounds. Repeated words and phrases are also removed by editors.
But I would not edit audio or video in a way to alter the person’s core traits.
We all have verbal and textual signatures. We have “catchphrases” we utter in conversation and words we rely on to fill time when we are gathering our thoughts. There are regional habits, too, which tell an audience about a speaker.
I know that some blog readers and podcast listeners object to even the most minor edits. I appreciate their perspectives and do not assume my choices would be the best choices for other content producers.
The transcripts and media files cannot replicate reality. I edit based on the goals of an episode and do my best to honor the guests appearing on The Autistic Me Podcast.