Why Is She Still Here?

Posted bystenoimperiumPosted inCourt Reporting, SITCTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When Branding Outshines Accountability in Court Reporting

We’ve all asked it: “Why is she still here?” How does someone with no stenography credential, a trail of unanswered questions about labor practices, and a habit of quashing criticism remain a fixture in our profession?

Below is a candid look at the forces that keep her brand afloat—and what we can do to change the story.

1. The Marketplace Loves a Good Logo

In today’s attention economy, image often outranks substance. A slick website, vibrant social feeds, and high-energy events create the illusion of authority. For outsiders—or newcomers eager for motivation—that polish can look like leadership. Meanwhile, those of us doing the real work behind courtroom doors lack the time (or desire) to curate a brand narrative.
Result? The loudest voice, not the most experienced one, dominates.

2. Silence Is Her Co-Pilot

Many stenos see the red flags—unpaid “volunteers,” corporate donations funneled into a for-profit venture, inflated success stories—but choose silence. Some fear backlash or ostracism; others just want to avoid drama. Every time we stay quiet, her platform grows taller. Silence isn’t neutrality; it’s passive endorsement.

3. Critics Become the Villains

Push back and you’re labeled “negative,” “jealous,” or “toxic.” Legal threats—like the recent trademark complaint leveled at my blog—turn the tables, framing the whistle-blower as the bully. It’s classic intimidation: shift focus from the allegations to the person raising them, and the real issues vanish from the feed.

4. There’s Money on the Table

Sponsorships, speaking fees, affiliate sales—profit flows to the person controlling the spotlight. Why abandon a cash-generating brand? Until the community stops clicking, sharing, and attending, the incentives favor staying put, credentials or ethics be damned.

5. Gatekeepers Aren’t Watching

Regulators, associations, and schools rarely police the “influencer” fringe. Unless a clear violation surfaces—tax fraud, false licensure—there’s little external pressure to step aside. That leaves accountability in our hands.

So, Why Is She Still Here?

Because the equation works:

Polished branding – scrutiny + community silence = sustained influence and profit

How We Change the Math

  1. Speak—Publicly and Persistently
    Share verifiable facts, ask hard questions, and refuse to be shamed for demanding transparency.
  2. Withdraw Unpaid Labor
    Volunteering for a for-profit brand without clear benefits fuels exploitation. Value your expertise.
  3. Redirect Attention
    Promote authentic steno voices—working reporters, reputable schools, nonprofit mentors—so genuine expertise rises.
  4. Demand Receipts
    Where do donations go? Are events insured? Who benefits financially? Transparency should be the baseline, not a special favor.
  5. Support Each Other Legally & Morally
    If someone faces a SLAPP*-style threat, rally. Show that intimidation tactics backfire by amplifying, not squelching, the conversation.

Final Word

She’s still here because the system rewards brand optics over professional substance—but only as long as we allow it. The moment enough stenos decide that ethical practice matters more than flashy marketing, the spotlight shifts. Let’s make that shift together.

Stenos, stay loud, stay factual, and above all, stay united.

DISCLOSURES

  • The content of this post is intended for informational and discussion purposes only. All opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are based on publicly available information, industry standards, and good-faith concerns about nonprofit governance and professional ethics. No part of this article is intended to defame, accuse, or misrepresent any individual or organization. Readers are encouraged to verify facts independently and to engage constructively in dialogue about leadership, transparency, and accountability in the court reporting profession.
  • The content on this blog represents the personal opinions, observations, and commentary of the author. It is intended for editorial and journalistic purposes and is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
  • Steno In The City® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. This blog is unaffiliated, unsponsored, and not endorsed by Steno In The City®or Shaunise Day.
  • References to “Steno In The City” are purely descriptive and used for editorial critique under fair use.
  • Readers are encouraged to review the facts and form independent conclusions. All views expressed are based on publicly available information, direct experience, or opinion. Nothing on this site is presented as legal or professional advice.
  • The organization known as Steno In The City (a registered trademark) has, to date, made no public statement regarding these concerns.
  • 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.

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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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