The Floor and the Ceiling – Why Experience Should Raise Earnings — Not Lower the Profession’s Base Rate

Court reporting faces a critical pricing question: should new reporters charge less for the same official record? The answer determines whether the profession maintains a stable foundation or trains the market to seek the lowest bidder. Experience should raise earnings through advanced services like realtime and expedited delivery — not reduce the baseline value of the record itself.

Why Transcript Correction Disputes Are Rising — And Where the Problem Originated

Certified court reporters are seeing a rise in large-scale transcript correction requests, but the issue is not declining reporter skill. It stems from the increased use of digital audio and ASR-generated transcripts being treated as equivalent to stenographic reporting. Once attorneys began comparing transcripts with software tools, the inconsistencies became clear. Accuracy starts at the point of capture, and the method matters.

Dividing Zero – The Illusion of Division in the Court Reporting Profession

There is no “division” in the court reporting profession — only distinction. Reporters are more united than ever: mentoring students, fighting the shortage myth, and defending the record against digital and AI intrusion. Outsiders may market unity to mask exploitation, but unity built on falsehoods isn’t healing. It’s control. You can’t divide zero.

Credentials vs. Competence – Rethinking Professional Standards in Court Reporting

Court reporting’s future depends on more than letters after our names. Credentials have value, but without strong state licensure, standardized titles, and real enforcement, they offer no structural protection. As attorneys push back on “high rates” and cheaper labor undercuts skilled reporters, the profession must unify around measurable skill, fair rates, and regulatory strength—not voluntary designations.