Declining the Invite – Why Court Reporters Are Refusing to Attend Extravagant Events

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In the world of stenography—a profession built on accuracy, integrity, and discretion—many court reporters are finding themselves at a crossroads. One name in particular, the branded entity known as Steno In The City (registered trademark) (SITC), once promoted as a glamorous and innovative hub for legal professionals, has recently become a source of division, scrutiny, and, increasingly, rejection.

As reports from StenoImperium continue to surface, raising concerns about their business model and the use of unpaid volunteer labor, according to published reports and postings on SITC’s own social media accounts and website, many stenographers are choosing not to attend SITC events. Some are even publicly condemning the organization, drawing comparisons to celebrities who have refused party invitations from embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. In both scenarios, what appears extravagant may be masking deeper concerns, as some critics suggest.

The Glamour vs. The Grit

SITC’s branding suggests sophistication: rooftop mixers, influencer-style content, luxury settings, and promises of community and opportunity. But as StenoImperium’s detailed exposés point out, much of this polish may mask a darker underbelly of mismanagement and manipulation.

In an article published in March 2025, SITC was found to be in violation of Louisiana solicitation and volunteer laws—a significant infraction for any business, let alone one so publicly aligned with a professional field. SITC has been reported to the State of Louisiana for potential violations of solicitation and volunteer laws. The state acknowledged receipt of the complaint, according to documentation provided by the whistleblower.

Further reporting exposed the use of unpaid labor to run high-end events. Court reporters, many with years of experience and education, were reportedly expected to “volunteer” in exchange for exposure or community goodwill—prompting criticism from some within the stenographic community. (StenoImperium, Feb 26)

“I didn’t enter this field to work red carpet events or chase social media fame,” says one stenographer who declined to attend an upcoming SITC conference. “I went into it to serve the justice system. What they’re doing feels like a mockery of that mission.”

The Diddy Comparison

The backlash bears striking resemblance to the resistance seen by high-profile figures in the entertainment industry against party moguls like Sean “Diddy” Combs. Just as SITC offers luxury and glitz to mask deeper concerns, Diddy’s lavish events have faced boycotts from celebrities who question the ethics, culture, and chaos behind the scenes.

Take actress Jenny Mollen, who famously declined a Diddy party invitation at the age of 19. “He seemed… small, strange, not someone I wanted to be around,” she said, describing the environment as one of overindulgence and dysfunction. Similarly, stenographers are now asking: Is this really where our professional standards should be heading?

Rapper Ice Cube has been vocal about his refusal to associate with Diddy events. “I’ve never gone to one, and I don’t plan to,” he said, noting his objections to questionable business practices. This mirrors what stenographers are now feeling: a refusal to align with behavior that tarnishes their profession.

Perhaps most vocally, 50 Cent has called Diddy “unmanned” and mocked his extravagant parties as hollow. His refusal to associate with Diddy stems from principle, not fear—and many in the stenographic community are taking a similarly firm stand with SITC.

SITC’s Party Culture and “Influencer Takeover”

One of the most damning accusations against SITC is how it has drifted from the values of professional court reporting. Instead of providing meaningful career development, critics argue, SITC has embraced the aesthetics of Instagram-worthy events and influencer-style promotion.

In a piece titled “All That Glitters Is Not Gold”, StenoImperium broke down how volunteers are exploited under the guise of “community” and networking. “The appearance of luxury masks the devaluation of labor,” the article stated.

Moreover, the organization has faced criticism regarding internal operations and how dissenting voices are handled. A separate exposé alleged that whistleblowers who raised red flags about SITC’s business model were met with online harassment and even threats of violence. The whistleblower filed for a temporary restraining order against a SITC-affiliated individual for alleged cyberstalking after criticizing SITC, as documented by StenoImperium. Additionally, a woman hired by SITC sent a cease and desist letter while falsely claiming to be a licensed attorney in California. She was reported to the California Bar, which completed an investigation and confirmed she was acting unlawfully. The case has been referred to the California District Attorney for potential prosecution and is currently pending.

A Profession Built on Integrity

The comparison to Diddy is more than a pop-culture analogy. It reflects a growing discomfort within the stenography field about image vs. substance. Just as Diddy’s empire is now under increased scrutiny for decades of unchecked behavior, SITC’s glittering façade is no longer fooling seasoned professionals who are demanding transparency and accountability.

SITC is also accused of allegedly structured in a way that allows it to operate with minimal regulatory oversight, according to critics., sidestepping fair labor practices and exploiting the goodwill of newer, eager court reporters. In short, it’s not just about flashy parties—it’s about real harm.

“I’m not here to be ‘seen’ at an event,” said another stenographer who has rejected multiple SITC invites. “I’m here to do my job. And that means standing up for my peers and protecting the ethics of our profession.”

Turning Down the Invitation

The growing boycott of SITC is not a tantrum—it’s a conscious rejection of a narrative that equates glamour with legitimacy. Like Ice Cube and 50 Cent opting out of Diddy’s world, court reporters are choosing principle over popularity.

As one StenoImperium article warns, “Influence must not be mistaken for truth.” The rejection of SITC events marks a reclaiming of that truth by a community tired of being used as props in someone else’s PR campaign.

The Future of Stenography

The industry is at a pivotal moment. With AI encroaching on jobs, certification standards under attack, and now influencer-style groups trying to hijack the profession’s public image, it’s more important than ever to demand integrity.

By refusing to attend SITC events, many stenographers are taking a quiet yet powerful stand. Just like those celebrities who declined Diddy’s infamous invites, they are saying: Not everything shiny is worth showing up for.

Because in a profession built on capturing every word, sometimes silence—especially in the form of absence—speaks the loudest.

Disclaimer:
This article includes opinions and commentary based on publicly available information and firsthand accounts. Allegations referenced herein are drawn from published reports, personal communications, and documentation provided by individuals involved. No claims of legal guilt or liability are implied unless confirmed by official authorities. The purpose of this article is to inform and foster dialogue within the stenographic community.

“My use of the phrase ‘Steno In The City’ is purely descriptive and used solely to refer to the trademark holder in the context of journalistic critique and commentary. No content on the site implies affiliation, endorsement, or partnership with the trademark holder.”

“Steno In The City is a registered trademark of its respective owner. This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by that brand.”

Published by stenoimperium

We exist to facilitate the fortifying of the Stenography profession and ensure its survival for the next hundred years! As court reporters, we've handed the relationship role with our customers, or attorneys, over to the agencies and their sales reps.  This has done a lot of damage to our industry.  It has taken away our ability to have those relationships, the ability to be humanized and valued.  We've become a replaceable commodity. Merely saying we are the “Gold Standard” tells them that we’re the best, but there are alternatives.  Who we are though, is much, much more powerful than that!  We are the Responsible Charge.  “Responsible Charge” means responsibility for the direction, control, supervision, and possession of stenographic & transcription work, as the case may be, to assure that the work product has been critically examined and evaluated for compliance with appropriate professional standards by a licensee in the profession, and by sealing and signing the documents, the professional stenographer accepts responsibility for the stenographic or transcription work, respectively, represented by the documents and that applicable stenographic and professional standards have been met.  This designation exists in other professions, such as engineering, land surveying, public water works, landscape architects, land surveyors, fire preventionists, geologists, architects, and more.  In the case of professional engineers, the engineering association adopted a Responsible Charge position statement that says, “A professional engineer is only considered to be in responsible charge of an engineering work if the professional engineer makes independent professional decisions regarding the engineering work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional engineer’s physical presence at the location where the engineering work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the engineering work.” If we were to adopt a Responsible Charge position statement for our industry, we could start with a draft that looks something like this: "A professional court reporter, or stenographer, is only considered to be in responsible charge of court reporting work if the professional court reporter makes independent professional decisions regarding the court reporting work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional court reporter’s physical presence at the location where the court reporting work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the court reporting work.” Shared purpose The cornerstone of a strategic narrative is a shared purpose. This shared purpose is the outcome that you and your customer are working toward together. It’s more than a value proposition of what you deliver to them. Or a mission of what you do for the world. It’s the journey that you are on with them. By having a shared purpose, the relationship shifts from consumer to co-creator. In court reporting, our mission is “to bring justice to every litigant in the U.S.”  That purpose is shared by all involved in the litigation process – judges, attorneys, everyone.  Who we are is the Responsible Charge.  How we do that is by Protecting the Record.

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