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August 30, 2012

Why Be A Great Court Reporter? Opportunities Like GITMO (International Court Reporters)

I had the honor of being in the same room with 14 court reporters that are reporting the Guantanamo Bay war trials for the United States of America.  In my March 2012 blog, I posted an RFP by SAIC.  The RFP looked daunting.  Some of the line items for the court reporter(s) who would qualify for the job included top secret clearance, being willing to travel to “red” zones, and being a Certified Realtime Reporter.

The court reporters working the trials are known at GITMO as “the Stenos.”  The Stenos’ job is to write a verbatim realtime transcript for the press corps in order to allow for transparency.  The final transcripts are uploaded to a website on the same day as the testimony is given.  (The official record is created by military court reporters.)  The Stenos upload their transcripts to a website for the world to read.

Nancy Varallo of Court Reporting & Management Services assisted in putting the RFP together and put together a team of some of the most talented CRRs in the country.

This is not my story to tell.  If you get a chance to be in an audience with the Stenos and hear about GITMO and the work they are doing, don’t hesitate to attend.  At the end of the GITMO presentation at the NCRA convention in Philly, there was a standing ovation.

No machine can do what the GITMO Stenos are doing.  When it comes to writing history, look for a court reporter.

 

@rosaliekramm  Twitter

June 6, 2011

Court Reporter Job Listing for Realtime Court Reporter – International

Here is an exciting job listing for a realtime  court reporter who wants to travel.  As a court reporter the world is your oyster.DEF – Defense/Intelligence/Geopoltcl
Req ID 199361
Able to obtain security clearance? Top Secret SCI
Currently possess security clearance? Top Secret
Location Guantanamo Bay,  
% Travel 100
Relocation NoRecruiterID: 3676
Requirements SAIC’s Mission Support Business Unit (MSBU) has an immediate opening for a Part-Time Court Reporter CLEARANCE: Must currently possess a minimum Top Secret clearance with the ability to upgrade to TS/SCI for OCONUS work. RESPONSIBILITIES: Court reporter will be required to produce verbatim transcripts in written and digital (MS Word document unless otherwise specified) formats. All reporters are responsible for accurate identification of proper names and places. Final records will be in the format specified by the government. Court reporters should be familiar with or have a working knowledge of “Court Room 21” technology. Stenographer will provide verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings using a stenotype machine. After documenting proceedings, stenographic reporters must edit the computer-tenerated translation for correct grammar. A security clearance will be required if a transcriber is to be allowed access to sensitive/classified materials. Transcriber (electronic reporting) uses audio equipment to record court proceedings. The court reporter monitors the process, takes notes to identify speakers, and listens to the recording to ensure clarity and quality. Electronic reporter and transcriber will produce a written and digital transcript of the recorded proceedings. A security clearance will be required if a transcriber is to be allowed access to sensitive/classified materials. Voice writing or redictation court reporter use computer speech recognition technology to produce real time or near real time written and digital transcripts. Support may be required for a seven-day workweek / 24-hour day, for an 8 hour work shift. Normally work will consist of an 8 hour workday, Monday through Friday but may include work on weekends and Federal holidays. Overtime or hours in excess of 40 hours per week may be required to support the mission. Performance may vary, but the majority of the work will occur at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and some other overseas locations. Some of the activities performed may require personnel to operate in areas deemed hostile FIRE zones such as, but not limited to, Afghanistan or Iraq. Additional work shall be performed on site in the National Capital Region. MANDATORY requirements: EDUCATION: High School diploma and at least 2 years of higher-level education. EXPERIENCE: 4-5 years direct related experience. SUBSTITUTION/EQUIVALENCY: AS/AA degree = two years general experience. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING SKILLS: Stenography Skills; Court reporters use a steno machine to transcribe the spoken word into text. A stenographer is capable of transcribing text at rates far faster than even the fastest typists. Detail-oriented, excellent English grammar skills, excellent listener as well as stenographer Real Time Reporting Skills; Technology has progressed to the point where “real time” court reporting is a reality. With real time court reporting the reporter’s steno machine is connected to a computer and real time reporting software. Other legal participants can connect to the real time feed and view the transcribed text as soon as it is transcribed by the real time reporter. A real time reporter must be a skilled stenographer who is also comfortable with technology. Not only must the transcription be set up properly amongst all participants, the real time reporter may also need to package the transcripts for distribution. Communication Skills; Whether a reporter specializes in traditional stenography or real time reporting, excellent communication skills are a must. In order to transcribe the spoken word into text, a court reporter must be an attentive listener. In addition to being able to hear the words being spoken, the court reporter must also know how to properly punctuate the resulting sentences so that the sentences accurately reflect the speaker’s meaning. Company Description: SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. For more information, visit www.saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions®