For journalists, capturing ideas on the fly and managing a high volume of information are daily challenges. While standard voice memos have long been a tool of the trade, a new application called Letterly integrates ChatGPT-style artificial intelligence directly into the note-taking process. This tool offers several practical features that can streamline a reporter’s workflow without the need for manual transcription or formatting.
From Voice to Structured Content The core function of Letterly is its ability to record voice notes and immediately interpret the content using AI, rather than simply transcribing it word-for-word. For a journalist in the field, this means they can dictate a rough stream of consciousness—such as observations from an event or rapid-fire interview notes—and the app will organize the information based on the context.
Users have the option to let the AI “do the magic” and format the text automatically, or they can select specific output formats. For example, a reporter brainstorming a new story can dictate their initial thoughts and instruct the app to format the output as a blog post, newsletter, or video script. This allows for the rapid creation of rough drafts for articles or multimedia content directly from spoken ideas,.
Managing Correspondence and Tasks Journalists often juggle communication with editors, sources, and PR representatives. Letterly assists in drafting emails by converting spoken instructions into written correspondence. A user can dictate the intent of a message—such as reminding a contact about an invoice—and select whether the output should be a “casual email” or a “formal email”,.
Crucially, the app maintains the original context, allowing the user to rewrite the same note in different tones. If a drafted email feels too informal, the user can select the “rewrite” function to generate a formal version without re-recording the audio. Additionally, the app can parse spoken reminders into organized to-do lists, which is useful for managing administrative tasks like delivering documents or scheduling meetings.
Multilingual Capabilities and Version Control For journalists working with international sources or covering foreign news, Letterly includes a translation feature. A note recorded in one language can be instantly translated and rewritten in languages such as English or French.
The app preserves the history of these edits. A user can toggle between the original transcript, the formal rewrite, and the translated version, ensuring that no data is lost during the editing process. If a specific version (e.g., a French translation) is no longer needed, it can be deleted individually while keeping the original note intact.
