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Q        What is the demand for new court reporters?
A        The demand for court reporters has always outstripped the supply. This basic
economic principle of supply and demand is the reason court reporters enjoy a
better-than-average income in both good and bad economic periods. In fact, when the
economy turns downward, the demand for reporters increases as litigation increases.

Q        How does the voice method of reporting work?
A        The reporter speaks into a mask repeating behind the speakers what they say,
making a tape recording of the reporter's voice. The mask allows the reporter not to be
heard in the room. The reporter then causes the dictated material to be transcribed into
booklet form for the requesting party.

Q        Why can I learn this method of reporting so much more quickly than I can learn
stenotype?
A        To learn to use the mask, you use the language skills, which you currently possess.
To learn stenotype, which is a phonetic shorthand, you must virtually learn a completely
new language.

Q        Do mask reporters make as much money as stenotype reporters?
A        Absolutely. The amount of money you earn is dependent upon many variables
such as your production skills, your clients and their paying habits. Income is a function
of the individual involved and not the method of takedown.

Q        Is the mask widely used?
A        The mask system of reporting was developed in the 1940's and has been used
extensively throughout military courts since that time. From military courts it has
expanded into civilian courts, both state and federal, and is also widely used in freelance
practices across The United States and Canada. Actual statistics regarding specific
numbers of reporters using each method, obviously, change constantly. For specific
current information, contact your state licensing board.

Q        What does the future look like for verbatim court reporters?
A        Verbatim reporters are really on the brink of technology. Speech recognition,
which takes the spoken word and converts it to text as the mask reporter speaks, is now
available. This advanced technology dramatically enhances the transcribing process
and will render keyboarding and other methods of takedown for the court reporter obsolete.

Q        How can I become a part of the dynamic and lucrative profession of court
reporting?
A        Contact The Court Reporting Academy today!!