Mary McGuire, J-Source

When editing interviews…. The most important rule – NEVER change the meaning of what the interviewee said.

It’s okay, even expected, that you will cut out ums, ers, long pauses, and other examples of verbal stalling – unless their verbal stalling is key part of the story, as in the case of a politician ducking tough questions.

It’s okay, even recommended, that you will cut out extraneous words. Before editing: “I think that, you know, that, the university should lower tuition fees.”