Ok so you might find the next few links interesting. These are from around the web, just random snippets that I’ve picked up in my reading, but I found some very cool information in them. You might too. Here goes…

Bond increased for man accused of taping nude reporter – Chicago …

A judge today increased bond to $100000 for an insurance executive from Westmont accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews. Michael Barrett was in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Friday to face one count …

The Chicago Terror Case: The Bollywood Connection, Al Qaeda Videos …

But a close reading of the FBI affidavit, and other court documents filed in the case, suggests the Headley case has provided more fruitful nuggets for investigators on a host of other fronts. … After running the bar “into the ground”— according to the bar’s current owner—Headley studied accounting at a community college and ran a video store with his mother (who had married a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter). In 1997 Headley was convicted in Brooklyn on federal charges …

Clout St: Chicago zoning inspector in kickback case back at work

Chicago zoning inspector in kickback case back at work. Share |. From today’s print edition: By Todd Lighty Tribune Reporter A politically connected zoning investigator has returned to work at City Hall barely a week after he admitted to … Court records show that Wellhausen took bribes ranging from $100 to $8000, including a $200 Bloomingdales gift card, in exchange for favorable zoning decisions. Wellhausen is one of 27 individuals swept up so far in an ongoing federal …

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COURT REPORTING: Is this a dying field? And can a mildly dyslexic person do well as a court reporter?

A major aspect of being a court reporter is fast accurate typing. I think that in the next five years excellent audio/visual technology will make court reporting obsolete. I would like to hear from anyone with knowledge here to project it out.

Also, I have some dyslexia that makes me misspell, etc. Would you recommend me get into a different field?

How hard is real time court reporting/captioning?

Court reporting seems like a great career choice for me because I enjoy courtroom drama (as well as long, boring court procedures). I also enjoy typing. I was just wondering how difficult it is to use a stenograph and record live speech verbatim using short hand methods. It seems rather difficult when I think about it.

A Career as a Court Reporter By A. Nutt

The National Court Reporters Association grants the title of Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) to individuals who pass a four-part examination and take part in compulsory continuing education programs. Although voluntary, the title …

Court Reporting Training

The important thing is to look for court reporting schools that are approved by the National Court Reporters Association NCRA. Court reporting training can culminate in professional certificates in a variety of disciplines, …

JOB OPENING FOR OFFICIAL REPORTER

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Certified Court Reporter: Associates Degree in court reporting or completion of a course of Court Reporter study at an accredited Court Reporting School. National Court Reporters Association Registered Professional …

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Does anyone know a reputable court reporting agency in New Jersey that pays every 2 weeks? I am getting tired of extremely late payment and agencies that I am fighting to get my check. I have 15 years experience. Any suggestions?

Ok so 3 more posts today that I’ve dug up – I’m an information JUNKIE on this stuff lately. Give em a browse and let me know what ya reckon. They’re just from a few different sites I’ve been surfing lately that are generally good for information like this…

NCRA meeting 18 Nov Eureka Council Chambers 10:30 AM …

Discussion and Possible Appointment to NCRA Committees Appointment of Director to the following NCRA Committees: a. Property Committee b. Finance Committee G. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approval of Minutes – Regular Board Meeting – October 14, …

NCRA Meeting 18 Nov 2009 Eureka City Hall notes.

THA is a possible source of income for NCRA. Needs money to repair track. Need to prioritize money for Northern project. Also supports efforts to put trail along side rail. Spent three hours yesterday, walking along track with trails …

NCRA Notice of Availability DEIR « Capdiamont’s Weblog

Since the March 9, 2009 DEIR was circulated, the NCRA Board approved its final Trail Guidelines. These guidelines are significantly different than the draft Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company (NWP Co.) Trail Guidelines that were used …

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I am seriously thinking about going to school for court reporting. It takes around 2 1/2 years to get your AA degree, and it's not cheap at 2,805.00 for 3 months. I would have to get finacial aid to be able to go. This particular school is the Court Reporting Institute Of Dallas. Here is my question: before I spend a lot of time and money, is it worth it? Are the court reporting jobs really that well paying? I really need some first hand insight from people who have graduated and are working in this field. I was told there are many different jobs for reporters such as close captioned, freelance, cyber conference specialist, government reporters, congressional reporters, etc. It would be great to hear from anyone in any or all of these fields. Thank you!

Huseby’s Court Reporting Services Offers Accessibility Solutions

Years ago, Maryland court reporters did their jobs only in the state's courtrooms. While that is still a common venue, court reporting in Baltimore and other cities has expanded out of the realm of legal depositions. …

Court reporter + overtime = six-figure salary? – On the Record

I HAVE LOOKED THROUGH EVERY WEBSITE UNDER COURT REPORTING. I CAN NOT FIND A SCHOOL IN MARYLAND THAT OFFERS THIS COURSE. THE COLLEGE, VILLA JULIE NO LONGER OFFERS THIS COURSE. I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS COURSE ON-LINE. …

Top 3 Practice Tips for Court Reporters

The Maryland Court Reporters Association has several tips for Maryland court reporters on their web site. These ideas help both new and experienced deposition reporters improve their speed and accuracy. When Practicing, Quality Is More …

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Are courts closed on monday?

Please check the specific court's website or call the clerk's office for it's holiday schedule

Patterico’s Pontifications » A Mississippi Court of Appeals Case

Cops, crooks, drunks, terrorists, bail bondsmen, newspaper reporters, encyclopedia salesmen, or dog catchers, anyone who breaks down a door in the middle of the night, has to expect they may be met with force, including deadly force. …

Murders Around Mississippi: Rev. George Lee’s Murderers Never Caught

Lee's murder the Supreme Court handed down Brown II on May 31, 1955, ordering the South to proceed with integration "with all deliberate speed." The wording seemed harsh to many, as Brown II spoke plainly in reaffirming the first decision. … Evers' job was to investigate, file complaints, issue angry statements, take reporters to crime scenes, issue press releases, and involve the federal government. (Excerpt from Where Rebels Roost, Mississippi Civil Rights Revisited …

The Wiz of Odds: Reporters Notebooks

Sports By Brooks: The Ku Klux Klan will stage a university-approved protest on the Mississippi campus Saturday. The group is upset with Chancellor Dan Jones' decision to remove "From Dixie With Love" from the Ole Miss band's song selection. … Associated Press: A judge has warned Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros that he must complete a court-ordered program on the dangers of underage drinking by Dec. 7 or face up to 180 days in jail. Amy Saunders, Columbus Dispatch: …

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I really need to get an accurate answer from an actual practicing court reporter, so if all you have is an opinion I appreciate your looking but it won't help me.

I've been laid up a few days after surgery, and like a moth to flame have been drawn into the various “courtroom” shows on daytime television. I'm also writing a book, and there is a courtroom element in it relating to testimony that I would like to have credible information on.

If you've ever watched these shows, you probably know that many of the litigants can not speak standard English when giving testimony. By that I mean they don't understand grammar, sentence structure, and have horrendous pronunciation (outside of regional accents, which are fine with me). It's rather frightening.

So, as a court reporter, do you have to record the transcript exactly as the testimony is given? Verbatim, grammatical errors and all? Is there any generally accepted leeway you are granted so the transcript is useful and not just gibberish?

Thanks for the info. I'd also be interested in any funny (or sad) anecdotes you might share about litigants (American-born, not foreign-born) who butchered the English language to the point of being unintelligible.

Back with more news for you today. It’s amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were…

Bond increased for man accused of taping nude reporter – Chicago …

A judge today increased bond to $100000 for an insurance executive from Westmont accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews. Michael Barrett was in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Friday to face one count …

Man accused of taping ESPN’s Erin Andrews nude to appear in court …

Chicago Breaking Sports sponsored by Discount Tire. Powered By. in Chicago … LOS ANGELES — An Illinois insurance executive accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews is expected to make his first court appearance Friday. Michael Barrett, of Westmont, was due in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to face one count of interstate stalking. He is free on $4500 bond and scheduled to be arraigned in the same courtroom on Monday. …

The Chicago Terror Case: The Bollywood Connection, Al Qaeda Videos …

But a close reading of the FBI affidavit, and other court documents filed in the case, suggests the Headley case has provided more fruitful nuggets for investigators on a host of other fronts. When FBI agents raided the home … After running the bar “into the ground”—according to the bar's current owner—Headley studied accounting at a community college and ran a video store with his mother (who had married a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter). In 1997 Headley was convicted …

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Have a great day!

Ok, the reason I need some help is cause I'm failing in my court drama class. My teacher asked me to go find info. on the internet, and I've been searching for this but I can't find anything! If you've got any websites that might help me find and cite legal reference material that would be nice. I'd be extremely grateful.

Mexican teen admits killing U.S. Border Patrol agent | Street …

By Richard Marosi (LA Times) November 21, 2009 Reporting from San Diego – A Mexican teenager pleaded guilty Friday to fatally shooting a US Border. … Christian Daniel Castro-Alvarez, 17, and an unspecified number of co-conspirators crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and lured Agent Robert W. Rosas Jr. out of his vehicle while he was on routine patrol, according to the plea agreement filed in federal court in San Diego. Rosas, 30, was shot multiple times by Castro-Alvarez …

Federal Bureau of Investigation – The San Diego Division …

SAN DIEGO, CA—United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that today Richard M. Hersch pled guilty to Mail Fraud and Conspiracy to Structure Financial Transactions in U.S. District Court in San Diego before the Honorable John A. Houston. Hersch faces a maximum term of 20 … In addition, Hersch admitted during his guilty plea that he conspired with others to structure 15 transactions, totaling $141500, for the purpose of evading the currency reporting requirements. …

Surge In Securities Class Action Lawsuits But Labor Law Class …

… we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class action lawsuits filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas. … During this reporting period, however, only 16 of the new class action lawsuits involved employment-related claims (representing a comparatively low 33% of the total number of new class actions filed). …

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Have a great day!

Back with more news for you today. It’s amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were…

Precedent: The new rules of law and style – Court Reporter …

[Lawyers Weekly]; Accused Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Wanda Eileen Barzee is expected to plead guilty in a Utah court today. [New York Times]; Lawyers who are late adopting technological advances are being eclipsed by their more …

Foul on Derek Fisher

I believe that Fisher was “some to most” of the reason that the Utah Jazz started the year 12-1, went 51-31 and eventually made it to the Western Conference Finals in the 2006-07 season. … What happened on the court wasn't the reason for my not liking Fisher much anymore, it was what he said to reporters after the game. He said, “My intent was to run through the pick hard. He was further away from me than I thought, so my arm was up high when I hit him. …

Lilly Faces Mounting Legal Battles Over Zyprexa – Part I …

However, the Utah court ruled against Lilly on this issue and stated, in part: “In fields traditionally occupied by the states, such as health and safety regulation, there is a strong presumption against federal preemption,” and Lilly “has not overcome this strong presumption.” …. “The FDA's request,” Bloomberg points out, “may bolster plaintiffs' suits against the Indianapolis company over side effects tied to Zyprexa,” attorneys told the reporters. …

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Have a great day!

With the Federal Reserve Board illegally blocking The Wanta Plan , overseas financial sources are reporting today that U.S. authorities are preparing a plan to hi-jack the $4.5 trillion dollar settlement collecting dust in a Bank of America account In Richmond, Va.

This is the reason, sources say, President George W. Bush personally instructed the Fed to block the transfer of money, involving a vast sum of money earmarked for the U.S. Treasury, AmeriTrust Groupe, Inc. and former Ambassador Leo Wanta.

Financial observers informed the Arctic Beacon corrupt “high level” American officials are planning to steal the full sum of money, even though the money belongs to the people and protected by Wanta as the legal trustor.

A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) that was to have been filed with the Bank of America, Richmond, has meanwhile mysteriously gone missing,” said the editor of an influential London currency review, adding if such actions were taken it would involve a crime to defraud the rightful owners of the money.

The $4.5 trillion in The Wanta Plan were recently signed pursuant to the accord an agreement between Leo Wanta/AmeriTrust Groupe, Inc., the US Treasury, the Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., and other key high level players who all decided this partial settlement would be better than Wanta’s original idea of pursuing the entire amount estimated at between $27.5 and $70 trillion.

It is important to remember the funds belong to Wanta as trustor and his trading corporation and are not the property of Bank of America, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury or any other party.

The signed agreement was finalized June 12 after Wanta, a former Treasury and Secret Service agent, was released from a long and unwarranted jail term, including 133 days in Swiss dungeon. Further, Wanta suffered tremendous hardship since the late 1980′s, including a character assassination by the CIA as operatives even falsely pronounced him dead in order to loot the vast sum of money.

Wanta’s ordeal began after refusing to “play ball” with President George H. Bush and President William Jefferson Clinton who reportedly used the vast sum of public money, estimated at more than 27.5 trillion, for their own personal benefit.

According to Wanta, who has appeared numerous times on Greg Szymanski’s radio show, The Investigative Journal, the smear campaign and illegal jailing began after he refused demands by Bush and Clinton for the wrongful diversion of $1 billion into an Panama bank account for Pilgrim Investments/Jorge (George) Bush in August 1989.

Wanta has identified this transaction as being illegal, but also has traced more than $750 billion of the booty as being diverted, stolen or misused by the Bush and Clinton crime families, monies which should have been properly returned to the American people.

Christopher Story, a financial writer from London, following the story, said: “The reappearance of this upright Treasury/Secret Service financial agent after years of absence, after the CIA had lied for years that he was dead, delivered a high-voltage electric shock to the criminal gangs operating inside the US structures.

“These are led by arrogant and powerful intelligence ‘barons’, and their compromised intelligence, banking and legal associates. Such people now understandably fear that they are all going to be exposed, arrested and indicted for their serial corruption crimes over the years.”

Under The Wanta Plan, considered bigger and more important than The Marshall Plan of the World War II era, Wanta himself outlined the specifics of the deal recently as a guest on The Investigative Journal.

“Under the plan,” explained Wanta, “the US Treasury is to receive $1.575 trillion in tax payments from the $4.5 trillion, representing tax payable at 35%, and then at least $96 billion per banking day following the delayed start-up of prearranged AmeriTrust Groupe, Inc. trading operations.”

Wanta added another similar aggregate tax amount per banking day will be payable to the U.S. Treasury/IRS arising from a similar transactions with other U.S. parties, generating an estimated aggregate $200 billion every banking day for the Treasury.

In addition, the State of Virginia is to receive an initial windfall tax remittance amounting to $270 billion since Wanta’s group was incorporated there, ensuring windfall tax remittances to Pennsylvania, as well.

When Wanta appeared on The Investigative Journal last week, he said he was miffed why the Fed would illegally hold up the transaction sinice it was costing the American people $200 billion every banking day the money remains dormant.

Further, he officially gave the Fed until July 31 to release the money, saying the agreement would then be null and void as he planned to then go after the total aggregate amount of offshore money estimated at $70 trillion.

“I don’t think they want that to happen,” added Wanta. “It could be devastating to some major worldwide financial as they would collapse since they do not have the liquidity to return the full amount of the money.”

As a capsule summary, the vast sum of money used illegally by corrupt insiders inside the U.S. government, was originally amassed by Wanta as part of a plan he and several other financial whizzes devised on behalf of President Ronald Reagan to destabilize the Soviet currency, bringing a quick end to the Cold War.

However, after Reagan left office, he was back stabbed by the Bush I and Clinton sadministration, leading to a long and unwarranted jail term to “get him out of the way,” including 133 in a Swiss jail and years behind bars on a bogus Wisconsin state income tax charge.

Released more than a year ago, Wanta has been trying with limited resources and no cooperation from the government and the media to return the money to the American people.

During his many years in jail, much of the money has been diverted to numerous private overseas accounts and, according to Wanta, essentially looted by the corrupt Bush and Clinton crime families.

But in an unexpected move in 2003 Wanta filed a federal court case to recover the money. Although the case was dismissed under sovereign immunity, he received verification from the court that his legal trustor status was valid, the judge telling him to use the federal collections courts as a recovery process.

During the last year, Wanta has been trying to retrace his financial tracks and Monday emailed the Arctic Beacon for being one of the only news outlets to follow the story, saying 1.2 trillion is a good first step at lowering the national debt.

Regarding the illegal blockage of money authorized by President Bush and the Fed Reserve, The International Currency Review had this to say, reminding the American people it’s imperative to follow the Wanta money before it is stolen by the corrupt criminals controlling the White House:

“Just as a taxpayer is obliged to pay his taxes, on pain of severe penalties for not doing so, anyone who prevents a taxpayer from paying tax is liable in the eyes of the law: and this, as noted, applies to everyone, without exception, including the President of the United States.”

About The Author

To learn more about the Leo Wanta saga and other stories vital to our world, go to independent journalist Greg Szymanski’s http://www.arcticbeacon.com and listen to his international radio show at http://www.gcnlive.com Monday-Friday from 4-6pm central.

Since Court-reporting is not a four-year degree, the schools which offer it are almost all either community colleges or private “business colleges”. You need to go to a school certified by the NCRA, most of which don't have on-campus housing (the only one I know of which does is Alfred State University in upstate New York). The list of certified colleges is:

ALABAMA
Gadsden State Community College
1001 E. Broad Street
Gadsden, AL 35902-0227
(256) 549-8694 (D) (A) (EC) (BC)

Prince Institute of Professional Studies
7735 Atlanta Highway
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 271-1670 (D) (A) (EC)

ARIZONA
GateWay Community College
108 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 286-8000 (D) (EC) (A)

CALIFORNIA
Bryan College of Court Reporting
3580 Wilshire Blvd., #400
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 484-8850 (D) (N)

Sage College
(formerly California School of Court Reporting)
12125 Day Street
Building L
Moreno Valley, CA 92557-6720
(951) 781-2727 (D) (N)

Cerritos College
11110 Alondra Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650
(562) 860-2451 ext. 2792 (D) (A) (BC) (CT)

South Coast College
2011 West Chapman Avenue
Orange, CA 92868
PH: (714) 867-5009 (D) (N) (A)

Tri-Community Adult Education
16209 East San Bernardino Road
Covina, CA 91722
(626) 472-7681 (D) (EC)

West Valley College
14000 Fruitvale Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 741-2439 (D) (A)

COLORADO
Denver Academy of Court Reporting
9051 Harlan Street, Unit 20
Westminster, CO 80031
(303) 427-5292 (D) (11/24/2004N) (A)

FLORIDA
Atlantic Technical Center
4700 Coconut Creek Parkway
Coconut Creek, FL 33063
(754) 321-5100 x3090(D)

Erwin Technical Center
2010 East Hillsborough Avenue
Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 231-1800 (D)

Key College
225 E. Dania Beach Blvd.
Dania, FL 33004
(954) 923-4440 (D) (N) (A)

Sarasota County Technical Institute
4748 Beneva Road
Sarasota, FL 34233
(941) 924-1365 x 62228 (D) (EC) (BC) (CT)

Sheridan Technical Center
5400 Sheridan Street
Hollywood, FL 33021
(754) 321-5400 x3073 (D)

Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville
3986 Boulevard Center Drive
Bldg. 1200, #200
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(800) 273-5090
(904) 398-4141(D) (N)

Winter Park Tech
901 Webster Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 622-2900 (D) (N)

GEORGIA
Brown College of Court Reporting & Medical Transcription
1740 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(800) 849-0703
(404) 876-1227 (D) (N) (A) (BC) (CT)

ILLINOIS
MacCormac College
29 E. Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 922-1884 (D) (A)

Midstate College
411 W. Northmoor Road
Peoria, IL 61614
(309) 692-4092 (D) (A)

South Suburban College
16333 South Kilbourn Avenue
Oak Forest, IL 60452
(708) 596-2000 ext. 3216 (D) (A)

Sparks College
131 South Morgan Street
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217) 774-5112 (D)

INDIANA
College of Court Reporting Inc.
111 W. 10th Street, #111
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 942-1459 (D) (A) (N) (BC) (ON)

IOWA
AIB College of Business
2500 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 244-4221 (D) (EC) (A) (BC) (CT)

KENTUCKY
West Kentucky Community & Technical College
4810 Alben Barkley Dr
PO Box 7380
Paducah, KY 42002-7380
(270) 534-3373 (D) (BC) (CT)

MICHIGAN
Academy of Court Reporting
1055 West Maple Road
Clawson, MI 48017
(248) 435-9030 (D) (N)

MINNESOTA
Anoka Technical College
Judicial Reporting/Broadcast Captioning
1355 West Highway 10
Anoka, MN 55303
(763) 576-4897 (D) (BC, CT) (A)

MISSISSIPPI
Hinds Community College
Court Reporting Technology
PO Box 1100
Raymond, MS 39154-1100
(601) 857-3417 (D) (N) (A)

MISSOURI
St. Louis Community College at Meramec
11333 Big Bend Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63122-5799
(314) 984-7500 (D) (N) (A) (BC) (CT)

NEVADA
Las Vegas College
170 N. Stephanie, Suite 145
Henderson, NV 89074
702-567-1920(D) (N) (A)

NEW MEXICO
Central New Mexico Community College
525 Buena Vista SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106-4096
(505) 224-3894 x0457 (D) (A)

NEW YORK
Alfred State College
10 Upper College Drivel
Alfred, NY 14802
(607) 587-3427 (D) (BC)

Business Informatics Center
134 South Central Avenue
Valley Stream, NY 11580
(516) 561-0050 (D) (A)

Long Island Business Institute
6500 Jericho Turnpike
Commack, NY 11725
(631) 499-7100 (D) (N) (A)

New York Career Institute
11 Park Place, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 962-0002 (D) (N) (A)

NORTH CAROLINA
Lenoir Community College
231 Highway 58 South
Kinston, NC 28502-0188
(252) 527-6223 ext. 502 (D) (A)

OHIO
Academy of Court Reporting
2930 West Market Street
Akron, OH 44333
(330) 867-4030 (D) (N) (A)

Academy of Court Reporting
2044 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 861-3222 (D) (N) (A)

Academy of Court Reporting
630 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 221-7770 (D) (N) (A)

Clark State Community College
100 S. Limestone Street
P.O. Box 570
Springfield, OH 45501-0570
(937) 328-8080 (D) (A) (BC) (CT)

Cuyahoga Community College
Western Campus
11000 Pleasant Valley Road
Parma, OH 44130
(216) 987-5214 (D) (EC) (A) (BC) (CT)

Stark State College of Technology
6200 Frank Avenue, N.W.
Canton, OH 44720-7299
(330) 966-5453 x4359 (D) (BC)

OREGON
College of Legal Arts
8909 SW Barbur Blvd, #100
Portland, OR 97219
(503) 223-5100 (D) (E)

PENNSYLVANIA
Community College of Allegheny County
808 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212-6097
(412) 237-2748 (D) (A)

Orleans Technical Institute
2770 Red Lion Road
Philadelphia, PA 19114
(215) 854-1854 (D) (N) (A)

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
881 Hills Plaza Drive, #450
Ebensburg, PA 15931
(814) 471-0019 (D) (A)

SOUTH CAROLINA
Midlands Technical College
P.O. Box 2408
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 822-7037 or 3594 (D) (A)

TENNESSEE
Chattanooga State Technical College
7158 Lee Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 697-2551 (D) (A) (BC) (CT)

Tennessee Career College
443 Donelson Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 874-0774 (D)

TEXAS
Alvin Community College
3110 Mustang Road
Alvin, TX 77511
(281) 756 – 3757 (D) (A) (BC) (CT)

Arlington Career Institute
901 Avenue K
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
(972) 647-1607 (D) (EC) (BC) (CT)

Court Reporting Institute of Dallas
1341 W. Mockingbird Ln #200 East
Dallas, TX 75247
(214) 350-9722 (D) (N) (A)

Court Reporting Institute of Houston
13101 Northwest Freeway
Suite 100
Houston, TX 77040
(866) 996-8330 (Toll Free)
(713) 996-8300 (D) (N) (A)

Iverson Business School & Court Reporting
1600 Pioneer Pkwy, #200
Arlington, TX 76010
(817) 274-6465 (D)

Kilgore College- Longview
300 S. High Street
Longview, TX 75601
(903) 753-2642 (D) (A)

Kussad Institute of Court Reporting
2800 South IH-35, #110
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 443-7286 (D)

VIRGINIA
Virginia Career Institute
Virginia Beach Campus
100 Constitution Drive, Suite 101
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 499-5447 (D)

WASHINGTON
Green River Community College
12401 S.E. 320th Street
Auburn, WA 98092
(253) 833-9111 x4219 (D) (EC) (A) (BC) (CT)

WEST VIRGINIA
Huntington Junior College
900 Fifth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 697-7550 (D) (A) (BC) (CT) (ON)
(800) 344-4522

WISCONSIN
Lakeshore Technical College
1290 North Avenue
Cleveland, WI 53015
(920) 693-1353 (D) (A) (BC) (CT)

Madison Area Technical College
3550 Anderson Street
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 246-6100 (D) (A) (BC)

CANADA
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
11762 – 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T5G 2R1
(780) 471-8351, 8383 (D)

PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS
The court reporter training programs offered at the following institutions are NCRA-Participating programs. While not subject to the independent review by CASE, these programs have stated their commitment in providing realtime reporter education by being able to access all NCRA resources, and may or may not be accredited by agencies recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. (Accreditation status should be verified with the institution.)

Participating programs collaborating with NCRA:

CALIFORNIA
Cypress College
9200 Valley View
Cypress, CA 90630
www.cypresscollege.edu
714-484-7211

Golden State College of Court Reporting
6543 Regional Street
Dublin, CA 94568
925-829-0115

KANSAS
Butler Community College
715 East 13th Street
Andover, KS 67002
www.butlercc.edu
316-281-6300

Court Reporting Institute of Kansas City
8001 Shawnee Mission Parkway, #100
Mission, KS 66202
www.courtreportingstenowave
913-432-3315

LOUISIANA
Court Reporting Institute of Louisiana
12090 S. Harrell's Ferry Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
www.courtreportinginstituteoflouisiana…
225-292-1950

MICHIGAN

TextStream Institute of Court Reporting
10291 E. Grand River Avenue, Suite G
Brighton, MI 48116
www.textstreaminstitute.com
810-844-2060

NEW JERSEY
StenoTech Career Institute
20 Just Road
Fairfield, NJ 07004
www.stenotech.edu
973-882-4875
888-783-6685

StenoTech Career Institute
262 Old New Brunswick Road #A
Piscataway, NJ 08854
www.stenotech.edu
732-562-1200

NEW YORK
Realtime Center for Learning, Inc.
183 Broadway, #312
Hicksville, NY 11801
www.realtimecenter.com
516-938-1166

Stenographic Institute of Western New York
4525 Main Street
Snyder, NY 14226
www.siscr.com
716-839-1322

OKLAHOMA
Rose State College
6420 SE 15th Street
Midwest City, OK 73110
www.rose.edu
405-733-7489

TENNESSEE
Southwest Tennessee Community College
5983 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134
www.southwest.tn.edu
901-333-7822

TEXAS
Del Mar College
101 Baldwin
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
www.delmar.edu
361-698-1372

Have court reporters been replaced by technology? Is court reporting a dying profession?

I am graduating next year and I am very interested in the court reporting profession. So I would be very thankful to know if court reporters are a dying breed. Also if anyone knows a good school to go to for court reporting in Michigan, please let me know.

William Jefferson’s legal bills to be paid by taxpayers during …

Get the latest Louisiana and New Orleans political news, louisiana political blogs and articles. Find updates on the state legislative session and issues, comment on the news and join forum at NOLA.com. … Ellis also said that a transcript of the eight-week trial, which the court reporter estimated would cost $26000, will be paid for by the court. As part of the appeal, expected to be filed next week with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., …

Assignment #1: Taking the Plunge: Becoming a Professional Wrtier …

“Somewhere like a very very small town in—where did you say you from, Louisiana? A teeny-tiny newspaper in the middle of Louisiana that may be looking for, say, a court reporter.” “A court reporter?” …

Sen. Mary Landrieu’s response to improper campaign donations draws …

Get the latest Louisiana and New Orleans political news, louisiana political blogs and articles. Find updates on the state legislative session and issues, comment on the news and join forum at NOLA.com. … I am including them mostly for experts and reporters who may want to follow up on this. If you are a policy amateur but have been reading this blog for more than a week or two, feel free to dive in. You can handle the complexity. If you want to know my guess about why …

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Have a great day!

Choosing A Process Server
 by: David G. Hallstrom, Sr.

In civil court matters, a process server is someone who serves or delivers legal documents, ie. subpeonas, summonses, court orders, various legal notices and in some cases writs. Process servers normally fall into one of four (4) categories:

1. Registered or licensed process servers: In most states, process servers are registered by their county. In some states, like California a process server, once registered in one county can serve papers in any other county within that state. In some other states a process server can only serve papers in the county in which he or she is registered. Most, but not all counties, when registering a process server require the applicant to be bonded or insured.

2. Private detectives and investigators: In most states private detectives and investigators are licensed by the state and exempt from registering as process servers. They and anyone in their employ can serve legal process and when doing so are considered officers of the court.

3. Sheriffs, Marshals and Constables: Sworn peace officers.

4. Non registered or licensed individuals: Friends, relatives and others.

In many states as in California a non registered individual may serve up to ten (10) legal documents each year provided that individual is not a party to the action at hand. ie: a plaintiff or defendant, etc.. When the service of the paper has been completed the server must sign an affidavit that the paper was served properly. That affidavit must usually be signed under penalty of perjury.

It is not usually a good idea to have a non professional serve process. They do not normally know the laws and rules involved in process serving nor do they usually know how to fill out a proper proof of service. Either of these can cause a service to be declared invalid and possibly cause you to lose the case or at the least force you to start over. Additionally many people attempt to evade service and a professional has a better chance of completing service. Finally, process serving can be very dangerous. Many people get very angry when served and attempt to take it out on the process server. Over the years I have had many servers beat up and attacked with knives or clubs or hit with thrown rocks.

I have had several servers that were non fatal victims of vehicular attacks and three servers that were shot, several more were shot at but not hit.

At one time, Sheriffs, Marshals and Constables were considered good choices for serving papers, however that is not now usually the case. Most Marshals no longer serve papers and many Sheriffs and Constables are so busy doing other things that your papers may sit for weeks or longer before or if they are taken out for service. Additionally, many people, when the see a Marshal’s or Sheriff’s uniform, just do not answer their door. The Sheriff or Marshal walks away and the papers are returned unserved.

Licensed private detectives and investigators can sometimes make the best servers, however not all of them serve papers and many believe that since they are “big shot” investigators they should charge far more than registered process servers. Others serve so few papers that they sometimes “make a mountain out of a molehill” and turn a fairly easy service into a difficult one. Other investigators turn every service into an investigation in order to run up billable hours. Then again, if you find a good detective agency, they will have numerous service assignments and investigators that can serve papers fast and efficiently for a reasonable fee.

Most licensed investigators can be trusted to be honest about the papers they serve. It is not easy to obtain a license and if they get caught commiting perjury by saying they served a paper when they did not or if they get caught billing a client for work that was not done, they can lose their license. If they lose their license they are out of business as they usually can not get a license reinstated. Additionally, in most states, complaints can be filed against a licensee and those complaints are investigated. Prospective clients can contact the state licensing board and obtain a record of adjudicated complaints.

Registered process servers usually know the laws and rules and for the most part are honest and hard workers. In most counties it is, however, easy to register and there is usually no licensing body to keep an eye on them. Therefore, if the registration is revoked the server can usually get a friend or relative to register and then the server can list himself or herself as an independant contractor working for the new registrant. Also there is no experience required in order to register. Finally there is usually no place where a prospective client can check for or file a complaint against a registrant. The only recourse a client usually has against a registered process server is to file a law suit against the party and then if a judgment is obtained to go against the registrants bond. Note, however that not all registering counties or states require a bond and those that do usually require a bond of $2000.00 or less.

When searching for a process server take care. Do not choose just anyone. Never use a friend or relative. If you find a server over the internet do not just go by the looks of the web site. A person can be a poor web site designer and a good server or vice versa. Call the server and ask questions based on the foregoing information in this article. If the server refuses to speak with you do not use his or her services. If the server is a licensed investigator check out the license. Contact the Better Business Bureau and see if they have any information. Try not to use a one person operation as he or she may not be able to keep up with the workload or may be forced to charge high fees in order to make up for a lack of steady business.

When making your choice do not go by price. Expensive servers are not necessarily the best just as inexpensive servers are not necessarily the worst. Hallstrom Detective Agency was considered to have one of the best process serving divisions in the United States, yet we charged less than almost any other service in the country. Ask about addirtional fees. Many companies quote a low initial fee and then tack on a fortune in incidental fees.

For links to directories listing process servers, private investigators, detective agencies, court reporters, people finders and more, offered for attorneys and other legal practitioners visit http://services.resourcesforattorneys.com a directory of directories listing links to services of use to the legal profession.

The foregoing information is not given as legal advice. It is instead given as information and opinion gathered and developed through experience over the last thirty years. David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is the owner of Hallstrom Detective Agency and although the agency no longer offers process serving services, it has, through it’s servers, completed service of several hundred thousand legal documents. Although the author believes the information to be accurate no guarantee is made or implied.

This article may be reprinted, at no charge, provided that credit is given to the author and that any links contained herein are retained and kept active. ©Copyright 2005 Resources For Attorneys. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

About The Author

David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and currently publishes several internet directories including http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com a legal and lifestyle resources directory for attorneys, lawyers and the internet public.

The economic slump in the United States has far reaching effects that also influence how car accident claims are being paid.

With a lot of workers and employees losing their jobs, a lot of drivers opt to either cancel their car insurance policies altogether and hope to God that they will not be involved in an accident or to decrease their liability coverage to the minimum so that they can remain as legal drivers and paying the least amount for their insurance.

As a result, there are a number of uninsured and underinsured drivers roaming the streets of Los Angeles.

According to statistics, fourteen percent of all motorists in the United States either do not have sufficient insurance or have none at all.

So what does this mean for a car accident victim if the liable party is underinsured or uninsured? Should he/she be forced to spend for all personal injury and property damages out of their own pockets?

What they should do is to check if they have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on their car accident insurance policies.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is a clause of a car accident insurance that protects a policy holder by paying the difference between the total cost of damage from the collision and the amount that the uninsured or underinsured motorist is able to pay out.

Although in California, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is not required by the state, most experts agree that this type of insurance coverage is well worth your money.

Medical bills for personal injury treatments can take a staggering toll on the victim’s finances, not to mention the lost expenses from taking time off work.

How to Reimburse from the Insurance Company

If the claimant has uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, most car accident insurance companies would require the claimant to sue the liable party for personal injuries or property damage brought by the accident before they pay the claimant for the damages.

Once the courts decide that the other party is indeed liable for the accident, and are ordered to pay whatever they are able to, that is when the insurance company will pay for the rest of the damages (up to an amount that is predetermined by the insurance company).

Applications of Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Aside from the usual vehicular accidents like car, truck, motorcycle and SUV accidents, it could also apply to bicycles and pedestrian accidents.

Many people are surprised that they can still use their uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage even though they are not in their vehicle during the accident.

This is most helpful during hit-and-run accidents. Under the law, if the liable driver could not be identified in any means, the said driver will be considered as an uninsured motorist and the victim could collect from his insurance company under the coverage.

However, the insurance company may still require the victim to file charges against the unknown motorist under the name of John Doe.

Consult an expert car accident attorney for more help on claiming for compensation under the uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

About The Author

Our Los Angeles lawyers are experienced in handling vehicle accident cases involving underinsured motorist coverage. For consultation, visit our website at http://www.losangelespersonalinjurylawyers.com/ and avail of our free case evaluation.

Court Reporting Company Announces the Launch of a New Set of …

Depo International, a Minnesota Court Reporting Company, Florida Court Reporting Company & Nevada Court Reporting Company, also offers digital litigation tools.

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Court reporters in Florida provide an important service to the legal community in the Sunshine State. Because of their professionalism and reliability, these.

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Become A Court Reporter

Court Reporters are responsible for capturing an accurate and complete record of legal proceedings by recording the verbatim transcripts of testimony, speeches, statements and depositions onto one or more forms of media. There are a variety of methods in which this can be done. One of the most widely used is stenography, in which reporters press keys on a stenotype machine to record combinations of letters representing sounds, words, or phrases which are electronically translated and displayed as text in a process called computer-aided transcription (CAT). Another method is voice writing, where the reporter speaks directly into a voice silencer (a hand-held microphone whose sounds are masked) during testimony and transcribes the audio information afterwards. A third method involves the use of audio equipment to record court proceedings, where the reporter monitors the process and takes notes to identify speakers so that an accurate written transcript of the recorded proceeding can subsequently be made. In all cases, the court reporter is responsible for a final transcript which is clear, free from grammatical errors, and accurate in identification of names and places. Court reporters are also responsible for developing procedures for easy storage and retrieval of all the original source material they used, including stenographic notes, voice files, or audio recordings.

Education, Certification, Licensing

The amount and type of training required to become a court reporter depends on the type of reporting chosen. It typically takes close to three years to master the art of real-time stenography. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has certified dozens of programs which are widely available at many community colleges, four-year universities and via distance learning. These programs, which include courses in stenotype computer-aided transcription and real-time reporting, require graduates to be able to capture a minimum of 225 words per minute. This happens to be the same standard required for Federal Government employment in this field. Real-time voice-writing requires a year or two of study and practice to become truly proficient. Electronic court reporters, who make use of audio-capture technology, typically learn their skills on the job.

Some states require court reporters to earn the Certified Court Reporter (CCR) credential
1000
. In order to do this, reporters must pass a state test administered by a board of examiners. Some states also require voice writers to become licensed. This can be accomplished by either passing a state test or by earning three national certifications offered by the National Verbatim Reporters Association: Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), Certificate of Merit (CM), and Real-Time Verbatim Reporter (RVR). These certifications must be renewed periodically and renewal requires the reporter to obtain continuing education credits.

By: U Urbano

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

This article on court reporting schools and jobs has been provided courtesy of City Town Info.

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Ok so 3 more posts today that I’ve dug up – I’m an information JUNKIE on this stuff lately. Give em a browse and let me know what ya reckon. They’re just from a few different sites I’ve been surfing lately that are generally good for information like this…

ThinkFilm exec’s calendar filled with lawsuits

Capitol Film and ThinkFilm were sued Oct. 22 by Solar Filmworks of South Carolina for $10 million in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging fraud, breach of contract, false promises and negligent misrepresentation. …

’3 Hebrew Boys’ Guilty In $82 Million Ponzi/Affinity Fraud Scheme …

In 2007, for example, the defendants filed a court document that described their investment program as an effort to free people from government “bondage” and referred to the investigation as “Satan's handiwork.” … About 100 supporters of the “3 Hebrew Boys” rallied in Columbia, S.C., in the early days of the probe, to demand that investigators leave them alone. Participants told reporters that the government did not understand the program, had overreached in its …

Jury finds ’3 Hebrew Boys’ guilty in scam | Aiken Standard | Aiken, SC

COLUMBIA — A federal jury on Friday found three South Carolina men guilty of swindling more than $80 million from thousands of investors, many of whom prosecutors say fell victim to the Ponzi scheme because of their mounting debt. … As for the money in forfeiture, court-appoint receiver Beattie Ashmore said Friday his team is still searching for missing assets and need prospective victims who are seeking relief to fill out a proof of claim form. …

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Things To Consider While Hiring An Expert Court Reporter

Court Reporters Attempt For Accuracy: Are you a detail-oriented person? Court reporters need to be conscious of the finer points of several subjects including grammar, transcription and the stenograph machine.

You’ll be a great court reporter if you’re good with details and enjoy striving for accuracy.

Court Reporters Have Good Grammar Proficiency: Much of what a court reporter does is punctuate what others say. As a court reporter you will be spending almost as much time punctuating and proofing transcripts as you will be in court or in a deposition. A good court reporter needs to have excellent English grammar skills. One simple rule is to use short sentences. In other words, use a period as soon as possible and avoid the over-use of the comma.

Court Reporters Strive To Be Excellent Though Not Perfect: Court reporters strive to be excellent listeners as well as stenographers; however, nobody is perfect and an unhealthy sense of perfectionism can actually be a hindrance to becoming a court reporter. Are you a perfectionist? Successful court reporters strive for excellence instead.

Court Reporters Are Attentive: Like learning any new skill, becoming a court reporter requires diligent effort. And once one becomes a court reporter, diligence and hard work are expected. If you are a person who perseveres and consistently can work towards a goal, becoming a court reporter just might be the right profession for you.

If you want to become a successful court reporter, these skills are helpful for career. The good news is that any individual can learn these skills even if they don’t happen to posses all of them in the beginning. With patience and hard work, you can become a court reporter and enjoy the many benefits of working in the legal field.

By: Executive Reporting

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Court Reporting Services C
1000
ompany Provides Deposition services with Certified Court Reporters in all over the Florida and United States.

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1. happy:Lark::______:fox
2. snake: slither::_____:fly
3. chef:_____::court reporter: transcript
4. rink: icy::_______:wet
5. ______:malodorous::flower:aromatic
6. grain: silo::______: coop
7. yoga:_____::doloar:currency
8. vaccine:_____::medicine: treatment

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pleez and thx!! its ok if u noe only one just answer it!! thx!! and put the number that u r answerin!! pleez and thx again!!

As many as half of all graduates say they’d like a career in the media. That’s a lot of graduates out there who want the same job you want or the job, if you are already working in the media, you currently have. I’ve heard this statistic banded about many times – often by editors or managing directors of newspaper groups justifying the poor pay journalists tend to get. I have no reason to doubt the statistic – I’ve met a lot of graduates who say they’d like a career ‘in the media’. Most of them now work as management consultants, accountants, in advertising or in sales. However, even if many of those who want a career in the media never quite get there, there is a simple truth: the route to being an employed journalist is competitive and the going is tough (at first).

As is the case with all competitive environments it pays to ensure that you stand out from the crowd. But to know how to stand out from the crowd, you have to know what an editor is looking for from a potential candidate. Put simply, editors tend to be looking for:

A commitment to a career in journalism

Self-confidence that stops way short of arrogance

An eagerness to learn and a keenness to help and get involved

We’ll focus on the top of the editor’s wish-list first. Demonstrating a commitment to a career in journalism is vital and will be something all editors are looking for in any new recruit. The following steps all demonstrate a commitment to your chosen career:

Asking and undertaking unpaid work experience at a local newspaper

Working on a school, university or community newspaper or news-sheet

Finding a good news story and then phoning a newspaper with it whilst asking for work experience

Undertaking training to become a journalist at one of the many establishments that offer courses.

This not only shows you are committed to a career in journalism but also that you are willing to go to the financial expense of getting yourself ready to become a journalist.

Undertaking a degree in journalism or media studies:

Believe it or not, the last option listed above will be the least likely to impress an editor. Many editors are skeptical about the value of journalism or media-based degree courses. They are often tinged with more theory than practical tuition and cover the ethics and philosophy of journalism when most editors are more concerned with tight copy, written in a legally-sound way which will inform or entertain their readers. On a personal level, I think media studies and journalism degrees are excellent and, if combined with experience of working as a journalist, offer an excellent grounding towards becoming a considered and insightful reporter. But unless the degree includes a certificate to say you have got your shorthand speed to (ideally) 100 words per minute, a thorough grounding in media law and court reporting, a basic understanding of local and central government and proof that you know how to construct a news story, a degree in journalism or media studies is unlikely to lead to a job. Unpaid work experience, however, often leads to a job – though not on its own.

Work experience:

If you don’t have a cuttings file (a selection of stories published in a newspaper written by you) then getting work experience is a vital step. Not only does it give you invaluable experience of trying your hand at journalism it also gives you the opportunity to:

* See how a newsroom operates and how a newspaper is put together

* Learn from experienced journalists and see how they handle different jobs Work out whether a career in journalism is really for you.

* Show a potential employer what you have to offer

* Develop a cuttings file of your own work under your own name

Getting work experience is reasonably straight forward. In most cases all you will have to do is ask. But you need to make sure you ask the right person so it is usually best to telephone the newspaper or newspapers you are interested in doing some work for and asking for the name of the person who deals with work experience candidates. Sometimes this is the editor, sometimes the news-editor and sometimes the chief reporter. When you write your letter asking for work experience, remember two main points:

1. Check and double check for any spelling mistakes – it is often a good idea to then get somebody else to check it a further time before sending it off. I have always avoided offering work experience to candidates who cannot be bothered to check their spelling before sending something off.

2. Keep it simple. Tell them you are interested in a career in journalism and tell them that, in the longer term, you would love to work for their paper. Highlight any skills you currently have that could be counted as a journalistic tool and tell them what your intentions are regarding training.

Usually this sort of approach will get you a period of work experience – usually a week or two. Sometimes, because newspapers have a lot of people wanting work experience, you may have to wait sometime before either hearing back or being offered a short term work experience placement. If you have a number of titles in your area, apply to them all.

When you are offered work experience with a newspaper, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to ensure you get the best out of the placement and that you show your best sides to an organization that is a potential employer. It is wise to:

Dress smartly and appropriately as you would for a formal job interview. You may be sent anywhere at any time and, even if you are on work experience, you are still an ambassador for the newspaper. If you end up shadowing an established reporter to court, you must wear a shirt and tie if you are male, or be smartly dressed if you are female. This sounds an obvious point but I’ve known work experience candidates turn up wearing jeans and tee-shirts and in one case a beanie hat.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things you are unsure of and offer your help whenever possible. Help may include offering to get file cuttings from the library or even just making the coffee. The point is you want to come across as a keen learner who wants to pitch in.

Try to find stories both during the working day and outside of working hours. Most news-editors and editors would be highly impressed with a work experience reporter bringing in their own news stories. They may not get used, but they will get you noticed. If they do get used, however, they will be more than noticed – they will be appreciated and you will be held in increasingly high esteem.

Listen to everything that is said to you. When I first did work experience for an evening title in Yorkshire I was fresh out of Cambridge University and I was convinced I was one of the best writers in the country. I was wrong, and I did not have a clue how to write a news story. When this was pointed out by the news-editor I was taken aback at first but I quickly saw what she meant and tried my best to learn the craft from her and to learn fast. The golden rule really is to do whatever is asked and to heed advice . Be confident, by all means, but avoid coming across as arrogant like the plague. Remember, you are there to learn.

Always turn up on time. This sounds such an obvious point that you might be surprised it’s in this list. Believe me though, it wouldn’t be in the list if it wasn’t a mistake I’ve seen made again and again. Try to be a little early and leave a little after you are told you can depart. Newspaper reporters have to be punctual in their starting times because many newspapers are deadline driven and news-editors need to be able to bank on staff being where they are supposed to be in case they need something covering at very short notice.

Be affable and upbeat. I’ve seen many work experience candidates sit quietly in the corner looking moody. I know that in most cases this was a sign of nervousness in a newsroom. Whilst I can sympathise with that, I would much rather help a candidate who is making an effort to be a pleasant presence around a newsroom.

These brief pointers should help ensure you get the best out of your work experience placement and that the newspaper gets the best out of you. Somebody who is remembered as smart, friendly, helpful, eager to learn and always turns up on time will be in good stead for a job when their training is completed. They are also the most likely candidates to be offered further work experience in the future. Exceptional work experience placements can also lead to a newspaper paying thousands of pounds to get you trained up as a journalist with the offer of a job at the end of the training. Not all newspapers offer this, but many do. Either way, work experience is the most important first step in becoming a journalist. The second step, of course, is learning the craft through training.

Getting trained:

There are hundreds of educational establishments out there offering courses relating to the media. They offer everything from degrees to home study courses. For newspaper journalism in the UK, the organization nearly all editors look to is the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). In broadcasting there is the Broadcast Journalism Training Council and Skillset. There are other bodies in both print and broadcast industries but these three are generally the most respected organizations and qualifications accredited by them tend to hold the most sway with potential employers.

The NCTJ offers the leading training system in the UK and the pre-entry qualification to newspaper journalism is the one most newspaper editors expect to see before offering a candidate a job. I started out after completing my NCTJ course and while most journalistic learning is done through experience and on the job, the skills acquired on the NCTJ course were essential to preparing me for the proper learning to take place. The range of courses accredited by the NCTJ vary from year-long courses to much shorter ‘fast-track’ courses which last a few months. Either way, at the end you will have a good grounding and a qualification in:

Shorthand – the essential tool all journalists need in order to take down information and to quote sources accurately.

Media law – editors live in fear of law suits from people who have been defamed or from their newspaper ending up in contempt of court. Knowledge of media law is essential and you are unlikely to get a job without this invaluable knowledge.

Public affairs – all reporters need an understanding of the machinations of local and central government because they often form the grist of newspaper stories.

Writing – knowing how to write a news story is obviously a vital skill that all editors are looking for from their employees. The NCTJ course will hone your skills and teach you the basic style guide on which most newspaper writing styles are based.

Training can be tough and the courses thorough and exacting. During your course you, or those around you, will endlessly debate your current shorthand speed and get exasperated that it isn’t close to reaching the 100 word a minute industry standard (for help with this click here). Shorthand is one of the most important parts of training to get right and, for most people, it is the part of the course that is both the most foreign and the part that raw intellect doesn’t seem to improve. During the course, it is a wise idea to keep getting work experience or sending in good news stories to newspapers to help build your cuttings file and to maintain contacts within the industry.

Once you have a clutch of passes under your wing, and your shorthand at 100 words per minute (or near), you are ready to head out there and seek employment. Sadly, even with the proper credentials, competition for jobs can still be fierce. Years ago, when I was applying for jobs I sent out 61 application letters. I had one reply, which was an offer of an interview 200 miles from where I was living at the time. Luckily for me, this single response turned into my first job. But it took a few months of sending out on-spec applications to a huge number of newspapers. I hope you will not have the experience but, if you do, know that you’re in good company.

As an aside, and because it is a question I’ve been asked frequently by raw recruits, I wanted to touch on the issue of where to start your career. Most, including myself, start out on local newspapers. But national newspapers also offer extremely good trainee schemes. Amongst most people in journalism training, the national press is held in much higher esteem. This is understandable – the readerships are (by and large) much greater, the stories tend to be greater in scope and scale, the pay is better and the scene is more ‘glamorous’. Having worked in both the regional and national press I can see the merits in trying to start out in both. If I was forced to make a choice, I would always advise starting with a local newspaper. My reasons for this are simple. Firstly, you get to learn your craft within a defined community and, if you make a mistake, your community will be quick to point it out. This is a useful fact of life and constantly focuses the reporter’s mind on the all important task of getting things right and making sure stories are accurate. Secondly, you will tend to get more scope to practice your new skills and cover a plethora of different stories. Thirdly, your chance of getting a front page story or a page lead (the main story on a page) in print is far higher. A friend of mine spent 18 months on a trainee scheme with one of the quality British broadsheet papers. At the end of the 18 months she had only a handful of stories of stories with her name on it – the one I remember best was an interview with a bee-keeper. In the same period, I had covered bus and plane crashes , murders, major education stories and an armed siege. All of my stories were national stories, but I was writing for a local paper (indeed some of them were bought from me by national titles).

I had about 50 or so front page stories and countless page leads in my portfolio. And my cuttings portfolio is nothing out of the ordinary for the local reporter. My friend on the other hand was a raw recruit in a field of highly experienced and very established (often specialized) national level journalists. The chances of her ever getting into print were slim when it came to writing hard news. I respect views different to my own, but I nevertheless hold firm to my view that the local press offers the best grounding in journalism. That, I feel, is demonstrated by the fact that nearly all of the reporters working for the national press started out on local newspapers.

A DEGREE OR NO DEGREE

Does having a degree help get a foot on the journalistic ladder? Not necessarily. It never hurts, of course, to have an expertise in some area to degree level and many journalists have degrees in subjects like history or English. For specialist titles it can pay to have a degree in, say, science or information technology. But for a general reporter a degree is by no means necessary. I have worked with many people who do not have degrees or A Levels and those people have often been editors or news-editors with a razor-sharp news sense and an incredible ability to generate and produce great news stories.

What is necessary is a good command of the English language and numeracy skills. Usually a GCSE qualification in English and maths is a requisite. But to get on in journalism a degree qualification will pale into insignificance compared with the following:

An ability to write accurately and quickly

An ability to generate news stories on your own initiative

An interest and knowledge of your own community

An ability to ask the right questions of the right people

Many people who have not gone into higher or further education have been picking important life-skills in the ‘real world’ which can become a real asset for a would-be journalist. The same goes for people wanting a career change into journalism. Such people are likely to get a warm response from editors, whatever their age might be. The reason is simple: mature candidates or those who did not go into higher education are likely to be more ‘street savvy’ than those fresh out of college.

About The Author

Laurence Cawley is a professional journalist who has worked in the regional and national media for the past 10 years. A dedicated shorthand practitioner, he is also the editor of http://www.shorthandworld.co.uk.

Permission to freely re-use this article is given provided a link is provided to its source and copyright holder at http://www.shorthandworld.co.uk.

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