A few news items

I was reading a back issue of the Journal for the Reporting and Captioning Professions (April 2010) and three small news briefs caught my attention.

1. “Minnesota considers cutting reporters” On Feb. 6, 2010, the St. Cloud Times reported that a committee has recommended, as a way to cut costs, that the Minnesota Judicial Council replace court reporters with digital audio recording equipment, as well as centralize financial processes and merge judicial districts.

2. “Brevard County faces loss of reporters” Florida Today reported that Brevard County (FL) courtrooms will eliminate funding for court reporting services and expert witnesses to relieve shortfalls in the budget. The deficit is attributed to a combination of inadequate funding from the state legislature, increasing case loads, and a tanking economy.

Sigh ~ Several people have asked me about this development in courtrooms. “Well, technology is going to make court reporters obsolete.” Baloney! I say. So you record the proceedings, now you still have to produce a transcript. Who’s going to do that? A court reporter – duh!

The third news brief is gave my spirits a little boost.

3. “A Bill in Kentucky requires closed captioning in movie theaters” A bill moving through the Kentucky legislature will require movie theaters to expand its offerings of captioned movies. Kentucky State Senator Ray Jones has proposed a new bill that will require closed captioning for the people who are hard of hearing on at least one screen at all cinemas with at least five screens. The bill would also require that captioning be offered in a number of different ways.

Oooo, what a great idea! I hope this trend catches on.