The first step in learning the careers of court reporting and closed captioning, is learning a realtime court reporting, closed captioning theory.  Preferably, the theory should have both a realtime court reporting as well as a closed captioning foundation built into the court reporting theory. Though it is written specifically for home study school, the Realtime Reporting and Captioning Theory, as its name implies, does have both a court reporting and closed captioning foundation built into the theory. This eliminates the need of learning  two different theories, one for court reporting, and one for closed captioning. This unique theory and its associated speed building technique was developed over a four year period by one of the premier court reporter, court reporting, closed captioning educators in the country. There are many theories, but some of them have been dubbed out of date, memory intensive, with literally thousands of short forms to memorize, old fashioned, complex, stroke intensive, et cetera.  One should research the THEORY they wish to learn before determining where and how they are going to train for these closed captioning and court reporting careers.

       For detailed information about this theory go to www.realtimereportingandcaptioningtheory.com  Remember, theory is the foundation of your closed captioning training.  A modern closed captioning,court reporting theory containing the necessary realtime writing concepts will shorten your training while making you a better closed captioner and court reporter.

       The second phase of your training after learning theory will be building speed on the steno machine. This is the longest and most intense part of your training, as you are building your speed to 180-200 words per minute on literary dictation with 97-98% accuracy.    While 180-200 words per minute probably sounds intimidating, by learning the Realtime Reporting and Captioning theory, and incorporating the unique speed building techniques in the Court Reporting and Captioning at Home program,  it can be accomplished in a relatively short period of time. The developer of this unique program is a Certificate of Merit Court Reporter (260 words per minute), and recognized closed captioning, court reporting educator.   A very few court reporters/closed captioners write 260 wpm Q&A (Testimony) dictation.  The NCRA (National Court Reporters Association) sponsors an annual national Speed Contest at 200 wpm literary dication, 240 wpm jury charge dictation, and 280 wpm Q&A (Testimony) dictation.

       Practice on the steno machine is much like practicing or building speed on the computer keyboard, one difference being that many times we are able to write entire words or phrases in one stroke due to the theory we utilize and the unique configuration of the court reporing steno machine keyboard. 
.  For information on exactly how the steno machine works and how we are able to write at these high speeds, visit www.stenomachines.com.

                                                                                                     

     With the steno machine keyboard we are able to depress multiple keys simultaneously, similar to striking a chord on a piano. With the proper closed captioning training program, mastery of  the steno machine keyboard and writing accurately at high speed levels are only a matter of memorization, discipline, and consistent practice.


STENO MASK AND VOICE RECOGNITION

 Surveys  of national captioning companies, as well as realtime court reporters and court reporting firms found that the number of voice recognition realtime closed captioners and court reporters working today are miniscule. In fact the national captioning companies surveyed had none. Captioning companies surveyed in one of the largest states, both local and national, stated they only used machine realtime reporters. 
Bill Gates, the CEO of Microsoft, has stated voice recognition will not replace machine court reporters in our lifetime. Many institutions and schools are promoting voice recognition because they advertise it as a six month to one year program. As a prospective student you should contact captioning companies as well as court reporting firms to determine the true demand.
Only about half of the states allow voice reporting or voice recognition.
For more information about steno mask reporting and voice recognition reporting CLICK HERE.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Nationwide Home Study Program 
Learn closed captioning from home. Click link for details.

       The practice material differs somewhat from that of court reporting practice dictation in that the broadcast closed captioner also writes live television programming with much less emphasis on the legal dictation and legal terminology.

Links

Court Reporting Schools Online
            

Court Reporting Career
What is court reporting?

Realtime Reporting and Captioning Theory Simplest and Fastest

Court Reporting FAQs Get the answers you need to know

Steno Machines Writing at 225 Words Per Minute