Court reporting: a career with choices.

Court reporting: a career with choices. The court reporting profession has been around for a long time, andthe opportunities for these highly trained professionals continue togrow. While most of us think of a court reporter as the person whoreports legal proceedings All actions that are authorized or sanctioned by law and instituted in a court or a tribunal for the acquisition of rights or the enforcement of remedies. in the courtroom, there are many other fieldsthat require the expertise of a court reporter. Besides CART (computer-aided real-time reporting, also known ascommunication access real-time reporting), real-time captioning,freelance reporting and official reporting, court reporters also work Inthe arena of convention reporting, where they report the meetings andseminars for various state and national conventions. Another field where court reporters are in high demand iscongressional reporting, where they work in state legislatures A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system.The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: , thehalls of Congress, and even the United Nations. While there are many different fields of court reporting, they allbegin with the same educational requirements, which include two to fouryears of post-high school education from an accredited accreditedrecognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria.accredited herdscattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. court reportingprogram. There are currently 69 nationally accredited colleges andbusiness schools in 29 states and Canada that offer training in thisunique profession. If a court reporter Chooses to specialize in real-time captioning,an additional two to four months of training is required. This trainingis usually conducted at the home office of the captioning company. CART reporters, freelance court reporters and official courtreporters are also trained in real-time reporting, which is now includedin the overall court reporting curriculum. In most states, bothfreelance and official court reporters are required to be certified inthat state. Although the certification requirements vary somewhat fromstate to state, most state certifications include a written examinationthat tests the court reporters knowledge in various fields, such asmedicine, business, communications and technology, as well as law, and askills examination on literary material at 180 words per minute Noun 1. words per minute - the rate at which words are produced (as in speaking or typing)wpmrate - a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit; "they traveled at a rate of 55 miles per hour"; "the rate of change was faster than expected" , jurycharge at 200 words per minute and testimony at 225 words per minute,with at least 95 percent accuracy. Additionally, there are national certifications national certificationLab medicine A voluntary form of regulation that affirms that a person has the knowledge and skill to perform essential tasks in a given field, in the lab or in nursing; NC is granted by nongovernmental agencies or associations with that many courtreporters strive to attain, such as the Registered Professional Reporter(RPR (Resilient Packet Ring) A packet-based protocol that provides fault tolerance and statistical multiplexing for the metropolitan and national SONET and Ethernet networks of the carriers. ), Registered Merit Reporter The RMR, Registered Merit Reporter, is the second highest certification offered by the NCRA, or National Court Reporters Association, for court reporters.There are two parts court reporters must pass in order to obtain an RMR: a written knowledge test and a speed (RMR RMR Resting Metabolic RateRMR Registered Merit ReporterRMR Reliability Must-Run (electric generation plant's status to maintain grid voltage/reliability)RMR Recurring Monthly Revenue (finance)), Registered Diplomat Reporter(RDR RDR ReaderRDR RadarRDR Rassemblement des R��publicains (French: Rally of the Republicans, Ivory Coast)RDR Remote Data Recovery (Ontrack Data International)RDR Registered Diplomate Reporter ), Certified Real-Time Reporter (CRR CRR Cash Reserve RatioCRR Center for Retirement Research (Boston College)CRR Congestion Revenue Rights (electricity)CRR Center for Reproductive RightsCRR Certified Realtime Reporter ), Certified CART Provider(CCP (Certified Computer Professional) The award for successful completion of a comprehensive examination on computers offered by the ICCP. See ICCP and certification.. 1. (language) CCP - Concurrent Constraint Programming.2. ), Certified Broadcast Captioner/CBC) and Certified Manager ofReporting Services (CMRS (Commercial Mobile Radio Service) An organization that provides cellular, PCS, mobile radio, paging and other wireless services. A good source of information can be found at http://wireless.fcc.gov/cmrsreports.html. ). Take a look at four of these court reporting specialties to get aglimpse of how rewarding this career can be. RELATED ARTICLE: Computer-Aided Real-Time Translation (CART)reporting. By Sandra P. Brcka CSR (1) (Customer Service Representative) A person who handles a customer's request regarding a bill, account changes or service or merchandise ordered. Agents in call centers are known as CSRs. See call center. , RPR When I started working as a professional court reporter in 1992, Iwas looking forward to making a valuable contribution to the legalprofession by providing the skills and ability to accurately recordproceedings in depositions and in the courtroom. I found this work to beinteresting and rewarding, meeting new people every day and providing ahighly valued service in a professional setting. This seemed like anideal profession where I could meet my personal, professional andfinancial goals. Little did I know at the time that there was anotherdimension of rewards on the horizon that would truly make the skills Ilearned as a court reporter turn into the ideal job. For the past 10 years, I have been providing CART services forhearing-impaired students at Iowa State University AcademicsISU is best known for its degree programs in science, engineering, and agriculture. ISU is also home of the world's first electronic digital computing device, the Atanasoff–Berry Computer. . In this role Iprovide a text record of everything that is said in the classroom,either by the instructor or by other students. I set up my court reporting equipment and connect it to a laptopcomputer that translates the output of my notes into real-time text. Iwrite what the instructor is saying, and the student can take notes fromthe laptop screen. This is very helpful when the instructor turnshis/her back to write on the blackboard (1) See Blackboard Learning System.(2) The traditional classroom presentation board that is written on with chalk and erased with a felt pad. Although originally black, "white" boards and colored chalks are also used. , if the instructor has a heavyaccent, or even when mustaches are overgrown overgrownsaid of a part that has not been kept trimmed.overgrown hoofovergrown hooves put unusual stresses on bones and tendons and allow for distortion of the wall and sole. to the point that lipreading lip reading,method by which the deaf are able to read the speech of others from the movements of the lips and mouth. It is sometimes referred to as speech reading, which technically also includes the reading of facial expressions and body language. is difficult. After a few classes, the student learns quickly totake notes from the screen while simultaneously following the lecture,reproducing a drawing/graph from an overhead and copying down amuch-needed formula from the blackboard. I discovered right away that the personal rewards of providinghandicapped students the support they need to pursue their educationsgive me a dimension of satisfaction that I didn't experience whenworking in the legal field. I have developed close friendships with mostof the students I have captioned for over the years as well as many ofthe instructors. The content for the classes I've written for have varied froma simple resume writing class to highly technical engineering materialon the graduate level. I've written many labs and supplementalclasses that include discussion sessions for assigned groups. It is veryhelpful to know ahead of time what class I will be writing so that I canbe fully prepared. I have textbooks and lecture notes available to me soI can skim the lecture content and enter any new terms See suggestions for new terms. in my dictionarybefore the scheduled class. My schedule varies from day to day depending on the class schedulesof the students I am working with. This keeps me from getting bored withthe same routine every day and gives me a good chance to get all myerrands run during the day. I have also provided captioning forpre-recorded lectures that are taught over the Internet. I love working in the university Environment ... the energy,enthusiasm and probing minds of the students and professors areenriching and exciting. And I also get to dress casually so I blend in Verb 1. blend in - blend or harmonize; "This flavor will blend with those in your dish"; "This sofa won't go with the chairs"blend, gofit, go - be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired; "This piece won't fit into the puzzle" with the students! CART for hearing-impaired students in a classroom situation can beperformed onsite or from a remote location using phone lines or theInternet. I prefer working onsite because I think the personalrelationships developed between the students, instructors and thereporter enhance the quality of service as well as the overallexperience for everyone. Classroom captioning is only one of many examples of a rewardingcareer as a CART reporter. Technology allows us to provide captioningservices for almost any live audio/video event as well as real-timetranslation of audio for immediate or future reference. As thistechnology grows, so will the opportunities for reporters to provide theservice. Whether providing CART services in a classroom setting, as I do, orremote captioning for a live event halfway across the country, CARTreporting is a growing and rewarding career opportunity. RELATED ARTICLE: Real-time captioning. By Holli R. Miller, RPR After graduating from just over two years of college at theAmerican Institute of Business (AIB AIBn abbr (BRIT) (= Accident Investigation Bureau) → oficina de investigaci��n de accidentesAIBn abbr (Brit) (= Accident Investigation Bureau) → ) in 1989, I was ready to venture outinto the "real world" of court reporting. I decided to go theroute of freelancing because it seemed for me a perfect entrance intothe profession with my newly acquired skills. The next few years provedto be difficult because I was in the process of building my dictionaryin addition to preparing transcripts on a daily basis. I was ready for achange, not only from freelancing, but from Iowa as well. Luckily, anewly lured court reporter at my firm told me about closed captioning,and after an interview with the National Captioning Institute, I washired. At that time, captioning was a new option for court reporters. Itwould be a daunting daunt?tr.v. daunt��ed, daunt��ing, dauntsTo abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay.[Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin task to undertake. There were no articles in thelatest trade publications or any other resources available to me forthat matter. It was such a new profession that I was on my own.Nevertheless, I was off on my big adventure to the East Coast andlooking forward to the opportunities it presented me. Upon completing my two-month training at NCI See Liberate. , I was put "onthe air" to caption my first live TV show--World News Tonight. Ihad to caption three programs at 98.9 percent accuracy in order toobtain my on-air status with the company. That first show was anerve-racking experience. My hands were shaking so badly it was hard tofind the right keys! Somehow I got through it, and the nervousnesssubsided with every show. I rarely get nervous now. However, when breaking news occurs suchas the terrorist attacks of 9-11 or the recent capture of SaddamHussein Saddam Hussein(born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. , my anxiety level rises. Experience increases your level ofconfidence. Eventually, you know that whatever the anchors throw at you,you will be able to handle it with captions that are accurate andunderstandable. I returned to Iowa after five years on the national front to pursuework in the newly expanded local market. New technology now would allowme to transmit captions anywhere across the country with just mymachine, a computer and phone lines! The advantages of a home-basedcareer were appealing: no more commutes, no more purchasing of businessattire, very little daycare for my children and fewer work hours. On a daily basis, I caption approximately four-and-a-half hours ofshows. Most of my work is completed by 8:00 in the morning. This leavesme with the rest of the day to do as I wish. The flexibility of thiscareer is a great advantage for me and for my family. In the bigger scheme of things, closed captioning offers people achance to keep abreast Verb 1. keep abreast - keep informed; "He kept up on his country's foreign policies"keep up, followtrace, follow - follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the of the latest goings on in the world around them.This is an invaluable service to those who rely on it day in and dayout Adv. 1. day in and day out - without respite; "he plays chess day in and day out"all the time . It is very rewarding for me at the end of a show to know thatI've been a part of relaying this information to those whootherwise would not have been able to receive it. I feel very blessed to have a job that not only provides thisservice but also is new and exciting every day. As technology continuesto expand, I think the opportunities for up-and-coming reporters will beendless. In just the 13 years that I have been a real-time captioner,I'm amazed a��maze?v. a��mazed, a��maz��ing, a��maz��esv.tr.1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise.2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex.v.intr. at how fast and furious it's grown and continues togrow. It's exciting to be a part of such an expanding career! RELATED ARTICLE: Freelance court reporting. By Kari Osborn, CSR, RMR, CRR Freelance court reporting involves a wide variety of reporting inmany different venues. Most commonly, freelance court reporters reportdepositions. A deposition takes place outside the courtroom, often inattorneys' conference rooms, and usually prior to a trialcommencing in the case. The court reporter places the witness to bedeposed under oath, and the attorneys question the witness regarding hisor her knowledge of the case. The main purpose of depositions is to find out what a witness knowsand what he or she will likely say if called as a witness at the trial.This helps the attorneys prepare their case for trial. At times,depositions are also used during the trial, where the deposition is readto the jury in lieu of Instead of; in place of; in substitution of. It does not mean in addition to. the witness testifying in person. I worked as a freelance court reporter for 16 years, and thefreelance reporting firm I worked with covered not only depositions, butalso a wide range of hearings. For example, I reported school boardhearings, convention meetings, public hearings regarding legislativeissues and highway planning, sworn statements, and civil servicecommission hearings. I had the opportunity to travel both in state andout of state to report depositions, and I occasionally received a callto come down to the police station to report a sworn statement ofsomeone who had been arrested or someone who had witnessed a crime. Mostof the sworn statements we reported at the police station involved onlythe capital offenses, such as murder, kidnapping kidnapping,in law, the taking away of a person by force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him to be detained against his will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. , rape and arson. I had the opportunity to meet two U.S. Senators while reportingpublic hearings that they were conducting, sat beside someone'shospital bed while reporting their deposition, wore a hard bat whilewalking through a factory to report a deposition in a products liabilitycase, reported the business meeting of a state convention, providedreal-time reporting for a hearing-impaired person during her jobinterview at a corporation, and also provided real-time reporting forhearing-impaired persons at a symposium on aesthetics and infrastructureat a local college, where the speakers' words were instantlytranslated onto a large screen at the front of the auditorium. Freelance reporting usually affords the opportunity to have moreflexible working hours, which is helpful in scheduling appointments andother commitments. However, there are times when depositions take placein the evening hours or on Saturdays. Many freelance reporters work fromtheir homes, preparing the transcripts on their computers, so there aredays when you do not have to get dressed Verb 1. get dressed - put on clothes; "we had to dress quickly"; "dress the patient"; "Can the child dress by herself?"dressprimp, preen, dress, plume - dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" up to go into an office. I had many wonderful and interesting experiences while I worked asa freelance court reporter, and the things you learn every day will justboggle bog��gle?v. bog��gled, bog��gling, bog��glesv.intr.1. To hesitate as if in fear or doubt.2. your mind. What a great career for continually expanding yourknowledge and experience! RELATED ARTICLE: Official (judicial) reporting. By Kari S. Osborn, CSR, RMR, CRR Official (or judicial) court reporting takes place predominantly inthe courtroom, usually in state or federal court. This is the type ofcourt reporting that is most often seen by the public, through theirservice on a jury or perhaps seeing court reporters on television showsand in movies. Although the reporter's role is often portrayed aseffortless ef��fort��less?adj.Calling for, requiring, or showing little or no effort. See Synonyms at easy.effort��less��ly adv. on television and in the movies, in real life thereporter's role is much more intense. I have been working as aprofessional court reporter since 1976. I have been an official reporterfor 12 of those years, and I enjoy it immensely. Official courtreporters are often referred to as "Guardians of the Record,"and that is our most important role. We must hear and write every wordthat is spoken in hearings and trials, writing on a stenotype sten��o��type?n.1. A keyboard machine used to record dictation in shorthand by a series of phonetic symbols.2. A phonetic symbol or combination of symbols produced by such a machine.tr.v. machine atspeeds of up to 300 words per minute at times. Official reporters alsoprepare transcripts of proceedings to be used in further proceedings orfor appeal purposes. Writing and transcribing court proceedings arelarge responsibilities, but they offer rewarding challenges and a senseof satisfaction in playing such an important role in our judicialsystem. Computers have had a huge impact on virtually every profession. Thecourt reporting profession is no exception, and the use ofcomputer-aided transcription (or CAT software) has opened doors to evenmore opportunities for court reporters. Along with the rapidly growingdemand for CART reporting and real-time captioning, computers allowofficial reporters to provide real-time translation in the courtroom.Real-time reporting is the instant translation of the proceedings intoEnglish as they are being reported. The court reporter's steno sten��o?n. pl. sten��os1. A stenographer.2. Stenography. writer is linked to a computer, where the transcript is instantlyprojected onto the computer screen. This is an invaluable aid to thejudge, attorneys, litigants, jurors and hearing-impaired persons. One of the reasons I love working as an official court reporter isthat I enjoy being in the courtroom and hearing a case from beginning toend--the full story. Every court case is unique, and you work with manydifferent attorneys and litigants. You also learn to expect theunexpected, because you just never know what is going to happen in acourtroom. From the tense moments of anticipation when a jury returnswith a verdict, to the heartwarming heart��warm��ingor heart-warm��ing ?adj.1. Causing gladness and pleasure.2. Eliciting sympathy and tender feelings: a heartwarming tale.Adj. 1. smiles of family members when anadoption is finalized See finalization. , your day is always interesting. If you have a curious mind about the world around us, you areprobably well suited for any field of court reporting. The courtreporting profession provides the opportunity to learn a great dealabout many different subjects. Court reporting was definitely the best career choice for me, handsdown. After all these years, I still love to go to work every day. Andthat's really what it's all about. For More Information The authors of this article are members of the Advanced TechnologyCommittee of the Iowa Court Reporters Association (ICRA (Internet Content Rating Association, www.icra.org) An organization dating back to 1994 that was created to protect children from potentially harmful online content and to protect free speech on the Internet. ICRA did not rate Web sites or label the content. ), If you wouldlike information about a court reporting career in Iowa, please visitICRA's website at www.iacra.org, or the website for the AmericanInstitute of Business (AIB) at www.aib.edu. If you have any questions about the court reporting profession,where to find nationally accredited schools, career opportunities orinformation regarding the profession in general, contact the NationalCourt Reporters Association (NCRA NCRA National Court Reporters AssociationNCRA National Centre for Radio AstrophysicsNCRA National Cancer Registrars AssociationNCRA National Campus and Community Radio AssociationNCRA National Cooperative Refinery Association ) by calling 1-800-272-6272 or byvisiting their web site at www.ncraonline.org.