What is the purpose of cross-checking transcripts against audio?

• A. To replace the audio with the transcript.
• B. To verify accuracy and catch errors not evident from writing alone.
• C. To determine the speaker's mood.
• D. To shorten the length of the transcript.

Answer: (B)

Ensuring accuracy by comparing the written transcript to the actual audio is what this checks. By listening back to the recording, the reporter confirms that every word matches what was spoken, who spoke it, and the order of statements. This helps catch errors that writing alone can miss—like misheard words, missing phrases, misidentifications of speakers, or inappropriate punctuation that could change meaning. The goal isn’t to replace the audio, assess mood, or shorten the transcript, but to produce a trustworthy, faithful record of what occurred.