Scopists Trashing Court Reporters

[Quyen]

Okay, I'll admit I posted this earlier and yanked it because I didn't want to create any bad blood, but I've been reading/seeing a lot of this going around in different forums/places lately, and it has really bothered me. I would love to hear what both sides have to say about this. (I have this tendency to address "sensitive" issues.) So here again is my original post:

I'm not much of a blogger, so this is just me kind of wondering aloud. I've never used a scopist, simply because I'm just a control freak, I guess, but I've just been reading a lot of "stuff" about all the really mean and nasty things scopists say about reporters, mostly along the lines of how poorly reporters write and how reporters depend on audio, blah, blah, blah. I just think it's really sad and in poor taste that some people feel the need to do such things, particularly since scopists seek out jobs from reporters, and they get paid to do the work. Yes, I know I've also heard about some reporters not paying their scopists and such, but that an entirely different issue. It just seems to me that some scopists have this -- I don't know, loathing of reporters for some reason.

I mean, scopists who have been scoping for a while know what the job entails. From what scopists have said, it just seems like they feel they shouldn't have to "fill in the blanks" or be paid more to do so. The way I've always viewed any job that I've ever worked in my life is, well, if I don't like it, I won't do it. But if it's a job I decide to do, then I accept the duties required of me, and I'm going to do the best job I can. If it ever comes to the point where I feel the need to trash my boss or my employer, then I know it's time for me to find another job. But from what I've seen/heard that scopists say about reporters, it would certainly discourage me from even thinking of ever using a scopist.

I guess, in a perfect world, I was thinking that it would be a relationship of mutual respect and support between a reporter and his/her scopist. Maybe I'm just missing something.

[Shawna Ingle]

One more thought....

The process of finding a great fit reminds me of WKRP in Cincinnati (showing my age). Remember when Venus was explaining how protons and neutrons bump all around from one to another, looking for the right charge so they could connect and bond? He set it in a gang context, if I recall, with hook-ups and break-ups all over the place until the atoms found one that just clicked. There are lots of protons and lots of neutrons, and none of us needs to "settle" for something that isn't "just right." :D

May we all find our perfect match!

Shawna
The Eternal Optimist

[Shawna Ingle]

I've been scoping for six years now and I often have "younger" scopists ask me for advice in dealing with a problem or a situation with a court reporter. My advice is always: Life's too short! :D

To elaborate: Whether you're the scopist or the reporter, I think it is most important to find someone with whom you are a good great fit. That has two aspects: Personal and professional. It's been my experience that I can live with a reporter whose skills aren't the greatest or whose dictionary needs work or that our styles are not absolutely identical. As a former teacher, I'll even do what I can to help get them where they need to be. However, if we don't mesh personally, those partnerships never last. Honestly, they don't need to, because there are so many CRs and so many scopists, better to move on and find Mr./Ms. Right. :) I’m not saying I want to be BFFs with my reporters, but are they someone I’d room with at a convention? If I was in her city, would we hook up for dinner? Would I sit with her for a cuppa if she lived next door?

In so many ways, the CR/scopist relationship is like a domestic partnership. It’s purpose is to provide quality of life and job satisfaction to both parties. If it’s not working for one, it’s really not working. If you’ve had a bad experience with a scopist, as I said, maybe you should move on. “Life’s too short to dance with ugly men.” (Oscar Wilde) Get out there and find someone who is a good fit. Naturally, a bad experience could cause you to shy away from a new relationship, but if you’ve ever had the bliss of a wonderful partnership, you know it’s worth the effort to find another one.


As far as seeing a lot of scopists bashing reporters online, I have a few thoughts on that....

• Perhaps you don’t see it because it’s not the side of the coin that applies to you, but I see many, many, many sites/blogs/message boards (including CRSNation sometimes) where CRs are bashing scopists. Some complain that they’ve given up on scopists because they can’t find a good one. I’ve seen scopists as a whole maligned as lazy, money-grubbing, stupid, unprofessional. It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth when I see that because, no matter how it’s couched, if it’s done in a public forum, its purpose is to humiliate, not to instruct. Nothing good can come of it.

• Obviously, I haven’t read the posts Quyen is talking about, so I don’t know the context of what was said and how. We all bring to the table our own “stuff,” which can be very damaging when reading the written word. I don’t know Quyen. In fact, I think this is our first path-crossing on CSRNation (Hi, nice to meet you, Quyen!). So this has nothing to do with her. But as a scopist, to me, the “transgressions” in the opening post aren’t sins at all, merely facts. It is a fact that some reporters are better writers than others. It is a fact that some CRs depend heavily on audio. Some of them see it, I think, as getting value for their money. “I paid for it; it’s there; I want to get my money’s worth from it.” It is a fact that some reporters do not give their dictionaries the attention they need. Note: They are all facts that make a scopists job much more difficult, unnecessarily so. I don’t see those as “slams” but I guess some people do. I guess my point is, perhaps the rub is with the reader and not necessarily the writer of those posts?

• As far as “mutual respect,” that can be hard to find as a scopist. The general tenor of what I read is that the CR is the boss and the scopist is the employee. True, that is the direction the money flows, but again, it’s a partnership. WE are producing a product. Just because a scopist is being paid, doesn’t mean she must tolerate being treated like a serf. There are many more CRs out there than scopists and I won’t waste my time in some kind of master/servant relationship. I will only work with the CRs who understand that I’m there to make money, just like them. I’m there to help them make more money. If they make more money, I make more money. If they don’t appreciate that, I move on. I just wish that attitude wasn’t there at all.

• Finally, if you have had a hard time finding a good scopist, perhaps you should look inward (channeling the Dalai Lama, now) and ask if it’s possible that you are one of the ones who never updates your dictionary or leaves out 10% of the job because you (or your scopist) can “get it off the audio.” Let me stress: There is NOTHING wrong with being a new reporter or being a seasoned reporter who is doing his/her best. But if you are engaging in those behaviors which make a scopist’s job more difficult, you should not expect to have a high-quality scopist put up with that for very long. As a teacher and as a scopist, I appreciate effort and I loathe laziness. I will seek out the former and flee the latter. I know I’m not alone in that.


That’s my .02.

Shawna

[Quyen]

Hi, "Sam." Thank you for your input. And nice to "meet" you. :)

[Naola "Sam" Vaughn]

I have used scopists sporadically through the years. Back before the advent of the internet and forums, when CompuServe was the first forum out there for reporters, I didn't see the bad-mouthing of reporters by scopists. However, I can say I see a very large amount that really bothers me as well, considering who the scopists are working for. So I have decided to try never to use a scopist who I have seen bad-mouthing reporters. I used a scopist one time and then saw her on a foruming just generally bad-mouthing reporters and have never sent her another job. That's my two cents' worth.

[Evelyn Hooper]

I am a scopist. I will keep this short since many eloquent comments have been made already by those who admire the skills a court reporter has. There is one thing that pops into my mind when I think about the rates that I charge. Sure, I have worked with reporters on both ends. I have spent too much time retyping the majority of some transcripts and had others that were beautifully and lovely to scope. I charge the same for both. I kind of figure that you court reporters don't get to adjust your rate on how the people involved are talking, whether they are fast, slow, heavy accent, wondering if that is truly English, those kinds of things. I bet there are people speaking who court reporters would love to triple fees for! And for those reporters who have had bad experiences, there are good scopists out there. Try not to let a few bad apples ruin what truly could be a great asset to your career.

[Quyen]

Connie, thank you for your very eloquent two cents! ;)

[Connie Hunt]

Here I go with my two cents!

I have only been a scopist for a short time. I am a member of several forums which I consider continuing education. As with everything, you must weed out what you want to gain from any particular site. I do prefer CSR Nation because of the professionalism. If a reporter has a bad experience with a scopist, they need to move on and find a scopist that "fits" them, or not. If a scopist dislikes a reporter, then they should do the same.

I have the utmost respect for reporters and realize that few people can do the job they are required to do. From keeping a straight face during courtroom bloopers to taking down every word of an attorneys incessant babbling and asking the same question over and over again, only to get the same response. Not to mention their knowledge of terminology and vocabulary on so many things that is required for their job.

But I, too, consider myself a professional in my field. What separates a professional scopist from the others and sets us apart is our ability to act as professionals. It also has to do with our moral character. Put those qualities together with an open line of communication, and you have a great scopist that tries to do everything in their power to please the reporters for which they work.

I'm disappointed that some have had bad experiences with scopists because it only takes one bad experience to wipe out all the rest of us who are trying very hard to do a good job.

Thanks all for listening. I'll get off of my soapbox now!

Connie Hunt
Case CATalyst Scopist
Reporter [e-mail]

[Judy]

Cheryl,

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scopistssupportgroup/message/150964

[Lois Whitley]

Kathleen,

I agree. I'm a Baby Boomer, raised in the '50s, and that phrase was heard often at home! I also like the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or something like that!

[Kathleen Russell]

I have not viewed any comment bad-mouthing court reporters or scopist, however, I would be inclined to think it very inappropriate.

My first reaction would be to say it's a generation gap with regard to work ethics.
I also am sure that might be an over simplification, age and work experience, has nothing to do with it, but courtesy does.

Remember when your Mom told you, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". Even though I'm pushing the you know what out of 70 years young, I remember quite clearly.