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Hopefully, the Google Docs shortcuts post made your writing and editing journey a little bit easier. However, some issues are solved better outside of Google Docs. Read more for a list of tutorials for programs that will make your writing journey even easier.
All journalists will get interviews at least once in their career (probably many more). Oftentimes, transcribing interviews to write quotes can get tedious very fast, especially if your main beat is the human features section, where interviews often run for longer than an hour. Moreover, interviews take a long time to transcribe – some writers in the Jets Flyover ASA used to spend two weeks (which equals to three hours) just on this process. As a result, by the time they actually started writing the article, they often got bored or didn't remember non-verbal details necessary to tell the full story.
Converter.app saves the day with its m4a/mp3 to txt feature.
How to Use
Open the website and type "M4A/ MP3 to TXT" into the search bar. If your audio recording is in a format other than M4A or MP3, type that into the search bar like "(AUDIO FORMAT) to TXT."
Upload your recording and wait. Also click on the "Distinguish different people" toggle.
Click convert and download your TXT file when it's ready.
Repetition in articles is one of those sneaky things that can slip past even the most seasoned writers. As a student journalist, I’ve definitely been guilty of using the same words over and over without realizing it—until an editor points it out. That’s where www.wordcounter.net has become a lifesaver.
Not only does it help you keep track of your word count, but it also has this nifty feature that highlights words you’ve repeated frequently. It’s a game-changer when you’re trying to avoid redundancy and keep your writing fresh. For example, I once used the word “community” seven times in a 500-word feature—it took two seconds on WordCounter to realize it and fix the issue. Whether you’re polishing an op-ed or tightening up a feature piece, this tool helps you elevate your writing by catching those repeated words before your editor does. It’s like having a virtual second pair of eyes on your article.
To use it, paste your article into the text box and just wait for the magic to happen! Look to the sidebar on the right for writing analytics.
*NOTE: You can also ChatGPT for the same effect.
As a student journalist, ensuring your writing is clear and accessible is key to engaging your audience. Many student writers, however, tend to use complex words and phrases commonly seen in academic papers, which can make their articles harder to follow. That’s where the Flesch-Kincaid Calculator on goodcalculators.com proves invaluable.
This tool evaluates the readability of your writing, assigning a score that indicates how easy or difficult it is to understand. It’s especially useful for identifying when your sentences are too long or your vocabulary is overly complicated for your target audience. By using this calculator, student journalists can refine their writing to ensure it’s concise, engaging, and reader-friendly—perfect for a school newspaper or other student publications.
With tools like WordCounter and the Flesch-Kincaid Calculator, student journalists can elevate their writing and streamline their workflow. Write smarter, not harder, and let your stories shine!
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