Write It Up! How Fast Do Our Journalists Type?
The New York Times • • technology
Key Points:
- The New York Times conducted an online typing test with about 80 reporters and editors to assess their keyboarding skills, revealing speeds ranging from 35 to 134 words per minute.
- The Upshot section, focused on data journalism, had the highest average typing speed at 99 words per minute, while the Express desk, covering breaking news, featured the second-fastest typer at 124 words per minute.
- The overall average typing speed among participating journalists was approximately 80 words per minute, which is double the average typing speed in the United States.
- Despite strong performance, Times journalists still type significantly slower than professional transcriptionists and stenographers, who can reach speeds of up to 300 words per minute using specialized keyboards.
- The article highlights the critical role of fast and accurate typing in the newsroom, especially during the pressure of breaking news deadlines.
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