Tag: Client Spotlight

Client Spotlight, Oral History, Transcription

ATC Client Spotlight: The San Francisco Opera

As you might know by now if you’ve been keeping up with our Client Spotlight blogs, we work with some exceptional, fascinating people and organizations––and this client is no exception. In fact, when we’re allowed to bring up names and specific projects that we’ve worked on (which is rarely, for confidentiality reasons), this is one of the ones we love to name-drop. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a part of the San Francisco Opera’s efforts to preserve their storied history through audio?

That’s right––this month’s Client Spotlight is about the San Francisco Opera, and the amazing initiative to digitally preserve and share various audio recordings from its rich hundred-year history. While most organizations and businesses of the arts choose to record their stories in heavy coffee-table books, the San Francisco Opera chose a different route, more fitting to their artistic medium and infinitely more accessible: recorded audio.

Streaming the First Century: Celebrating 100 Years Through Audio

The project to digitize and make accessible the San Francisco Opera’s historical recordings, “Streaming the First Century”, features 25 audio artifacts from the last century of the Opera’s history, including full performances, excerpted operas, and oral history interviews. The oral history portion of the collection includes both archival interviews with artists as well as contemporary conversations and panels with artisans and administrators. 

This treasure trove of both modern and historical audio content was released in the form of four interactive sessions, each of which contain audio commentary from Company members that help bring expert insight to anyone who would like to listen––or anyone who would like to read. That’s right––all of the audio presented in “Streaming the First Century” is available to read in transcript form, save for the opera performance audio. This means that all of the oral history content is available in both audio and text formats, which is a monumental step in ensuring that this artistically, historically, and academically rich content is accessible to all kinds of people, regardless of their preferred medium or level of hearing. We’ll actually be talking a lot more about transcripts and accessibility in a few upcoming blogs, so stay tuned for more on that subject!

As the transcription service that worked on these publicly-available oral history transcripts, we’re thrilled to see our work exhibited in an unconventional and widely accessible way. Most of the transcripts that we create are completely confidential and used for a variety of private purposes––whether it be for legal, financial, or governmental organizations––so seeing our work proudly displayed for the benefit of all on the San Francisco Opera website is something that we find pretty special. We love the idea of using transcripts as a way to make oral history accessible to all, and we hope we get to work on more projects like this one in the future! 


If you’d like to check out any of the enchanting history we’ve discussed here, we definitely recommend checking out the project in its permanent home on the San Francisco Opera’s website here. There’s a wealth of beautiful performances, glamorous photos, and––if we do say so ourselves––riveting transcripts of interviews, panels, and conversations from the historical to the modern.

Client Spotlight, Transcription

ATC Client Spotlight: Carmen Fields

While we’ve had the pleasure of working with many incredible clients throughout our 56 years in business, working with Pulitzer-winning journalist Carmen Fields was definitely a highlight for us. Carmen is a legend in her field, having led a long and storied career in print and broadcast journalism that’s led her to be named one of “Boston’s 100 Most Influential People” by Get Konnected™ and recognized as a “Legend of Roxbury” by Roxbury Community College Foundation for her pioneering work as a black woman in broadcast media. 

But Carmen isn’t only a journalist––she’s also an author. Her soon-to-be-published debut work, “Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band” is a memoir detailing the career of her father, big-band leader Ernie Fields. At ATC, we had the immense honor of helping her digitize analog cassette tapes and transcribing the contents for use in her upcoming memoir, and while we eagerly await the published book, we thought we’d share one of Carmen’s more recent newsworthy projects here in Greater Boston. 

A multicolor digital painting of journalist Carmen Fields with text below reading "Black Authors Collection Donated by Carmen Fields" and subtext reading "Doctor, Humane Letters '92" by Salem State University.

The Salem State Donation

Last year, Carmen made a groundbreaking donation to the Salem State University Library––her extensive personal collection of books by Black authors which featured several signed, first-edition works by authors including Maya Angelou, Colin Powell, Alice Walker, and Muhummad Ali. The collection also included landmark works by Zora Neale Hurston, Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Barack Obama, and Dr. Martin Luther King, all of which are currently in circulation at the university’s library. 

This exceptional collection from Carmen, generously donated to Salem State, has served to enrich the lives and cultural literacy of the student body, as well as to help introduce students of all backgrounds to critical texts by Black authors that have shaped history. The importance and impact of such a donation cannot be overstated, and is only one of many reasons we are so honored to count Carmen amongst our clientele here at ATC. 

Client Spotlight, Oral History, Transcription

ATC Client Spotlight: 92NY

At ATC, something that we take very seriously is the concept of transcription as history-making; the idea that when we set down speech in writing, we are engaging in the act of creating history, setting in stone, so to speak, something ephemeral. While we’ve worked on many projects throughout the decades that we feel fit this idea, there is perhaps no project that better exemplifies it than our work for cultural and community center 92NY on the Elie Wiesel Living Archive. But before we delve into the intricacies of that project––and the great honor that it was for us to be part of it––allow us to introduce 92NY to those who may be unfamiliar with the organization and their work. 

Founded as the Young Men’s Hebrew Association in 1874––often referred to as the YMHA or simply “the Y”––92NY began as a secular organization with the aim of enriching the social and literary lives of its members. Originally offering activities such as musical performances, literary readings, fitness classes, and various forms of adult education (such as ESL classes for New York’s immigrant population), the YMHA grew steadily throughout the years, eventually rebranding as 92nd Street Y, or 92Y, in 1975. Nowadays, the organization has vastly expanded its programming, offering a myriad of classes, talks, performances, screenings, readings, and resources to New York residents, both within the Jewish community as well as outside of it. This year, to better represent its roots and history in NYC, the organization rebranded once more as The 92nd St Y, New York––or 92NY for short.

The Elie Wiesel Living Archive

In 2020 and 2021, 92NY set out to accomplish something that would make history––to digitize Professor Elie Wiesel’s 180 lectures, readings, and conversations that took place over the course of over 45 years at various 92NY facilities. Elie Wiesel, a renowned political activist, Nobel laureate, author, and Holocaust survivor, is one of the most respected and influential Jewish figures of the 20th and 21st centuries, and 92NY recognized that the contents of his many lectures required careful, delicate, and accurate preservation. We at ATC are incredibly honored to have been chosen to transcribe all of Professor Wiesel’s lectures––an act of history-making that we undertook with the utmost care. With many of us having Jewish cultural backgrounds ourselves (including our founder, Sandy Poritzky, a first generation American who grew up in a Yiddish-speaking home), it’s impossible to describe the reverence with which we handled this project, as well as the pride that we take in having transcribed and captioned Professor Wiesel’s lectures with an exhaustive level of cultural sensitivity, accuracy, and consideration. 

The Elie Wiesel Living Archive is now available for learners of all ages and backgrounds online at the 92NY website. We consider it a veritable treasure trove of Jewish history, Torah education, cultural education, and, in 92NY’s own words, “an essential guide in ethics, human rights, and memory in the wake of the Holocaust.” We strongly encourage you to take a look. 

Client Spotlight, Transcription

ATC Client Spotlight: Judith Bishop

For this month’s Client Spotlight blog, we wanted to introduce broadcast producer and reporter Judith Bishop. Currently based in Miami, Judith has worked in broadcast journalism for over 40 years––decades of experience that led her to write her first book “Changing Channels: From Just the Facts to Outrageous Opinions” as well as to begin hosting her podcast “More on the Story.” Since we consider ourselves fans of the truth here at ATC, we’re excited to share more on Judith’s recent work, but first, allow us to offer some background. 

Judith began her career in broadcast reporting in 1975 when she took a position as a television news anchor and reporter at WTVG in New Jersey, where she quickly rose through the ranks covering the latest in the political and business news of the day. During her early career, she covered multiple Democratic National Conventions, and was also responsible for several high-profile interview programs hosted by some of the biggest names in TV news, including Al Roker, Dick Cavett, and Tim Russert. Judith was also responsible for producing many programs at CNBC––thirty of which are now recorded in the permanent archives at The Paley Center. She’s worn a lot of hats throughout her career as a veteran journalist, from helping coordinate the launch of “HARDBALL with Chris Matthews” to producing documentaries and year-end specials, and now she’s adding podcast hosting and writing to her impressive resumé. 

Changing Channels: From Just the Facts to Outrageous Opinions

At ATC, we had the pleasure of helping Judith in the creation process of her debut book, which she wrote as “an examination of television journalism in the age of Trump.” An integral piece of the publication was the inclusion of interview snippets and extensive quotes from industry insiders, including famous TV news anchors, reporters, and more––and that’s where we came in. Working with Judith to provide fast and highly accurate, verbatim transcripts from these sources was both challenging and incredibly fascinating for those members of our team that had the opportunity to contribute the transcription, and we’re thrilled that Judith described us as “a one-stop shop for verbatim transcriptions at rapid speed and a fair price.” 

“Changing Channels” is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local bookstore. It’s a captivating exploration of the world of TV news in our modern era, asking––and answering––some of the deepest and most compelling questions about the ways that television news has come under public scrutiny in the time during and after the Trump presidency. We think it’s both a thoughtful and a critical examination of the search for truth in media, and we heartily recommend it to those looking to hear about the world of TV news by those who know it best. Her podcast “More on the Story” is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Client Spotlight, Transcription

Client Spotlight – July 2020

Since our founding in 1966, oral history interviews and archival recordings have been a main focus of our transcription service. Each time we partner with an organization it is always amazing to learn the ins and outs of each project. It is with great pleasure that we share these two fascinating projects that we proudly transcribed.

Lynda Kachurek, Head of Rare Books & Special Collections at the Boatwright Memorial Library at the University of Richmond shared these comments with us about two of her projects.

This two-part oral history with Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker and his wife, Theresa Ann Edwards Walker, was conducted by the University of Richmond in 2016 and is believed to be the last interview Dr. Walker recorded before his passing in 2018. The excellent transcription completed by the Audio Transcription Center assists with accessibility online, as well as allowing greater subject analysis and research access for the material.

The Birmingham Tapes are a set of 10 mass meetings that span the duration of Project C, the SCLC’s (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) work during the 1963 Birmingham Campaign. They are believed to be the only publicly available recordings of these meetings, presenting a significant and unique perspective on the detailed planning and management of the Birmingham Campaign. The transcriptions done by the Audio Transcription Center not only assist with accessibility but they allow for a deeper research potential, greater subject analysis, and wider availability to these materials.

Client Spotlight, Oral History

ATC Client Spotlight

May 31, 2020
ATC’s Client Spotlight is on the Hatfield Historical Society


As we wrap up the month of May we wanted to share a fascinating oral history project that our client, the Hatfield Historical Society, has just published on their Hatfield Vietnam Stories website. These oral histories capture the untold stories of Hatfield veterans from the Vietnam War. These captivating oral histories are full of memories with raw emotions, and they intertwine their amazing recollections from their lives and experiences during the war.

It was an honor to be a part of this project, and our team was so moved by the veterans’ responses.

These interviews help us better understand not only the experiences of these veterans from the Vietnam War, but the oral histories also give a greater sense of our nation’s history from that era.

Academic, Client Spotlight, Transcription

Malcom X: A Life of Reinvention – Manning Marable

Malcom X A Life of Reinvention - Manning Marable - ATC Blog
 On April 4, 2011 Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention was published, and the magnum opus of Manning Marable’s life’s research was finally in print.  Sadly, for those who do not know, Dr. Marable passed away 3 days before the book hit the shelves.  Thankfully, he was able to see the book in print before he passed away. 

Continue reading “Malcom X: A Life of Reinvention – Manning Marable” →

Client Spotlight, Transcription

Powderhouse Productions – Client Spotlight September 2010

Powderhouse Productions - Client Spotlight September 2010 - ATC Blog

Here at the Audio Transcription Center we’re always amazed at the diversity of our clients’ audio.  One day we may be transcribing a high-brow legal hearing, and the next we’re creating a transcript about the world’s shortest cat.  And truly, everything that you can imagine in between is heard by our team of transcriptionists.  With the mix of clients we have, the content we transcribe truly is, “soup to nuts.”  
 
But, back to that world’s shortest cat, and the client that sent that audio our way,  Powderhouse Productions. 

Headquartered in Somerville, Ma. Powderhouse Productions has been producing a wide range of television shows since 1994 for channels such as PBS, National Geographic, TLC, and the programs we’ve most recently been transcribing, “Dogs 101,” “Cats 101,” and “Pets 101” for the Animal Planet network.  

So you truly want to know the answers to these questions, well you could just ask my team of transcriptionists, but then you wouldn’t be watching the premiere this Saturday night at 8 p.m. on Animal Planet.

“Powderhouse relies on the Audio Transcription Center for high quality, accurate transcripts delivered on time and on budget.   They understand the demands of television production – their turnaround time is fast and their customer service is excellent.  We depend on them to meet our tight deadlines and they always deliver!”   

– Dan Miller VP, Production 

Client Spotlight, Transcription

Archive of American Television – Client Spotlight April 2010

Archive of American Television - Client Spotlight April 2010 - ATC Blog

Oral History Meets TV = Transcription Bliss @ ATC

We here at the Audio Transcription Center have probably all watched more television in our lives than we care to admit.  Still, we like to think of ourselves less as gluttons for the tube and more as refined connoisseurs of the medium.  But, though we may try to act all cool, nothing sets us a-twitter like receiving a new transcription assignment from our friends at the Archive of American Television (you might know them better as “The Emmys”)

Wait, TV has an Archive?

Yup.  Founded in 1997, the Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television is a treasure trove of one-on-one interviews with TV luminaries — from the early pioneers who shaped the medium, to beloved personalities of TV’s golden age; from the actors, actresses, news anchors, and hosts who’ve worked in front of the camera, to the directors, writers, composers and producers who’ve worked behind the scenes.

From the BoobTube to YouTube

And, as part of its vision “to chronicle electronic media history as it evolves… and make the interviews available worldwide,” the Archive has digitized over 2,000 hours of its original content, making hundreds of these interviews accessible online.  For FREE.

A few of the most recently posted interviews include:

  • Beloved Children’s television performer (and avid sweater collector) Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers Neighborhood.
  • Famously irreverent and ever insightful comedian George Carlin (ironically, the man who gave the world the “Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say on Television,” which he discusses here).
  • Former Golden Girl who’s having a late career revival with roles in hit movies and TV commercials and an upcoming gig hosting Saturday Night Live, Betty White.

And of course our first love, Transcripts

In addition to having hundreds of interviews available to watch online, complete transcripts of most of the interviews are available from the Archive (for a fee, and for research purposes only).  For additional info, contact the Archive’s Digital Projects Manager, Jenni Matz.