Though,I often carry my laptop with me, I usually depend on my notebook.I scribble everything whether its important telephone number or anything related to my story.If I find any unusual about anything surrounding me,I instantly note down.My memory is not very sharp.So,I heavily dependent on my notebook.Specially,for follow-up stories,my notebook helps me a lot.Here is an excerpt from The News Manual.
Journalists cannot know everything or remember everything. They need to write down information which they will need in the future; and when they need the information, they need to know where to find it.There are many kinds of books which will make you a better journalist if you know how to use them properly.Even in the digital age, the notebook is an essential tool of a journalist’s trade, whether working in print, radio, television or online… The notebook allows you to record essential details and organize information; it frees your mind for thinking.
However, it is no use carrying a notebook around unless you are able to use it properly and consistently.Many young journalists are embarrassed to take their notebooks out in front of people. Remember, if a person is to be quoted, he or she would much prefer that you get a correct version than be misquoted. If there is any doubt in your mind about a person’s willingness to be interviewed, ask if they object to you making notes…..
The equipment
Do not struggle with notebooks which are either so large that they become impossible to hold or so small that they do not hold enough information and leave you turning the page for every sentence.
Ideally you should choose a notebook with the following features:
It should sit comfortably in one hand. This is useful whenever you have to make notes standing up or walking.
It should have a hard back for support.
It should have a metal spiral at the top to make it easier to flip pages over.
It should have feint rules on both sides of each page.
Once you have found a make of notebook that you like, stay with that make where possible. It will be one less thing to go wrong.
Before you attempt to make notes, also make sure that you have either a sharp pencil or a working ballpoint pen, whichever you prefer, and always have at least one spare. Regularly check all your pens and pencils to make sure they are in working order. If in doubt, throw it out.
Using the notebook
As soon as you get a new notebook, write your name and the name of your news organization clearly on the cover, in case it ever gets lost.
Write on the cover the date when you start using it. This is useful for future reference.
Hold the book firmly in your hand, with the cover and any used pages flicked well out of the way. On windy days, hold any free pages firmly under the book.
You can even hold down used pages by putting a rubber band around them.
Start every story on a new page, even at meetings where there are several stories (e.g. Parliament).
At the foot of your new page, mark clearly in longhand:
a) the title of the meeting or full name of your interviewee and b) the date and place of the meeting or interview.
It is easier to flick through the notebook looking for these details at the foot of the page, than to look for them at the top of the page.
Many journalists like to draw a rough margin down the left-hand side of each page, in which they can make longhand notes or marks of emphasis. Others like to draw a line down the centre of the page, which allows them to get two columns of shorthand per page. This is especially useful if your shorthand outlines are small.
Note clearly whenever a new person speaks or the speaker touches on a new topic. This does not need to be a full title, just enough for a reminder. Leave a blank line between new speakers and/or topics.
Clearly mark those passages, words, figures etc. which you regard as important. You should develop your own system of marks, preferably made in the margin. For example, one stroke alongside your notes for any material you must include in your story, two strokes for more important sections and three strokes for the most important angle or remark.
Work your way through your notebook in an orderly fashion, starting at the front and using only one side of the paper. This makes it much easier to go back through your notes when you need to recap.
When you come to the end of the book, turn the whole notebook over and start again, using the reverse side of each page.
At an interview, always review your notes quickly before you thank the interviewee and leave. This allows you to identify any areas you may have missed or which are unclear. It is always a good idea to go through your notes after the interview, before sitting down at the keyboard. This is the time when you should go over any doubtful shorthand outlines and put extra marks or key words in the margin. If you review your notes while they are still fresh, you decrease the chance of making errors in reading them back.
On occasions you may make notes of an interview or meeting without expecting to use them immediately, for example if they are part of your research into a future feature article. Always type these notes up straight away. If you do not, when you return to them in a week or a month, you may find that you cannot read your shorthand.
When you have used the notes, strike them out with a single diagonal line across each page. This makes the task of finding "active" notes a lot simpler. Do not obliterate the pages and never tear them out. You may need to refer back to them at some time in the future, such as in the case of a complaint.
When you reach the last page of your notebook, you will have used only one side of each page. Now turn the whole notebook over and work your way from the back to the front, using the other side of each page.
When a notebook is finished, do not throw it away. Mark the date you finish it clearly on the front cover, then store the book safely in your desk drawer or filing cabinet. You can eventually throw the books out, but make it a policy never to discard a notebook for at least a year after it is finished. You never know when you might need it again. Should you be accused of defamation, for example, a properly marked notebook can be produced as evidence in court and may help in your defence.
Finally, there will be occasions when you are caught without a notebook, maybe at a social event. Then you must make use of whatever paper is handy.