In this podcast Paul talks about some of the techniques he uses to record oral histories.
This podcast was funded by a generous grant from the 2nd AsiaPacific Outgames legacy fund.
Summary
The abstract summarizes an interview with Paul Diamond conducted by Gareth Watkins. Diamond has a diverse background, having started as an accountant before shifting to journalism and ultimately specialising in oral history. The interview was recorded on May 29, 2012, in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, and it has a runtime of 54 minutes.
Diamond discusses their journey into oral history, which includes work on radio documentaries and an oral history project on the Vietnam War. They interviewed Maori men, including some soldiers who identified as gay, exploring the nuance of their experiences. Diamond highlights the power of the human voice and the authenticity it brings to historical accounts. The preference for audio over video in oral history is underscored with an example from the Imperial War Museum. One can identify with a narrator's younger self on audio, while video would only show them as they are today, possibly elderly.
Throughout the interview, Diamond stresses the importance of good research and ethical interviewing techniques in oral history. They note that the orality of a voice can capture unique attributes like accents, pauses, and phrasing. Oral history is seen as a credible historical source that deals well with the ambiguity inherent in personal narratives.
Addressing ambiguity involves researching before interviews, corroborating stories, and asking for context when things seem unclear. Training for oral historians in New Zealand primarily takes place at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington.
Diamond touches on the different approaches to interviewing, emphasizing embedding life history within topic-based interviews to enrich the oral history and caution about the influence an interviewer's background can have on the interviewee.
In terms of technical advice, Diamond indicates the importance of making the interviewee comfortable, using technically capable recording equipment, and handling various environmental noises that may interfere with recording quality. Also, they mention how photographs can be effective memory triggers during interviews.
The interviewer, Watkins, brings up the topic of querying sensitive information such as sexual experiences, to which Diamond admits feeling uncomfortable but acknowledges its value in understanding people's experiences, such as veterans in the Vietnam War project.
Diamond's interview reinforces the principle that no research is more significant than an individual's well-being, advocating for care in addressing sensitive subjects. The distinction between summarizing interviews in abstracts versus transcribing them verbatim is also discussed, as the former guides researchers to the recording's content without losing detail in the transcription process.
Finally, Diamond highlights the importance of clarity on project goals, the informed consent process, and sharing recordings of interviews with participants. They also mention the necessity of reaching out through diverse channels to get a rich sample of interviewees and the value of being recommended by a trusted party.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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