BBC Radio 4 has teamed up with The University of Sheffield’s Journalism Department and the NCTJ to explore the ‘mysterious art of shorthand’ in a programme to be today.
The special edition of “Word of Mouth” will illustrate the history of shorthand as well as discussing its present day uses.
The show will feature University of Sheffield’s shorthand tutor, Kaye Carl, and journalism lecturer, David Holmes as well as NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher.
A recording from 1981 of Sir Isaac Pitman, developer of the most commonly used shorthand system, will also be broadcast.
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The programme’s producer and former Sheffield journalism student, BBC Bristol’s Luke Hollands, who is an advocate of shorthand, says that he was surprised that shorthand hasn’t been featured on the show before.
“As someone who began their media career as a local reporter I know only too well the importance of shorthand. I used it every day as a newspaper journalist and still use it now for taking notes and writing memos.”
The show which will be broadcast at 4pm, is part of a weekly series presented by poet and author Michael Rosen that explores the way we use words.
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