What is a Court Reporter?
Over many decades, the term "court reporter" (also referred to as shorthand reporters) has evolved to define anyone who records words on a steno machine. That said, when a machine writer is able to write 225 words per minute (the national standard) and beyond, those skills on the steno machine open the doors to many different occupation opportunities. Court reporters are responsible for keeping written records of legal proceedings, whether in government, court, or private settings. The verbatim documentation in criminal, civil, and other court proceedings requires professionals who are highly skilled and trained in court reporting, which usually involves stenography.
Court reporters may also find a wealth of professional opportunities in the fields of closed and realtime captioning services, webcasting, and Communications Access Realtime Reporting (CART) reporting, all of which require expert stenographic skills.
Courtroom Reporting
Involves taking records of court proceedings, depositions, and administrative hearings; it may be a freelance or employee position (may be stenograph court reporting or voice writing).
Deposition Reporting
Involves taking records of court proceedings, depositions, and administrative hearings; it may be a freelance or employee position (may be stenograph court reporting or voice writing).
Realtime (live) Captioning
Involves providing realtime captioning for television broadcasts, sports events, weather, disasters,
emergencies, and other live television events.
Closed Captioning
Involves working for talk shows, news, and sports for national broadcast companies, local television stations, or television/movie studios.
CART
Involves providing specialized services to deaf or hard-of-hearing people in live situations, such as college classrooms, lectures, speeches, cultural presentations, religious services, civic events, and seminars.
Webcasting
Involves providing realtime reporting services for Internet-based events, such as corporate sales meetings, press conferences, product introductions, and training seminars.