Captioning Programs
Ask A Captioner in Washington.
Email AskACaptioner@aol.com
(Working on interning program/mentoring program as well)
Captioning Links
www.captions.org
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/closedcaption.html
What is closed captioning?
Closed captioning is the text on the television that describes the events of a
program for the benefit of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
How is closed captioning done?
Live captioning is performed by real-time court reporters working remotely out
of their homes in tandem with equipment such as modems and encoders to
communicate to television stations.
What types of programs are captioned live?
Live captioning is performed on a variety of shows. For example, local news all
around the country is captioned live, from Seattle to Houston to New York City.
In addition to that, all sporting events are captioned live, such as local
games, league games and national championships. There are also a number of other
events which are captioned live including political events, talk shows, city
council meetings, and entertainment programs.
What skills or requirements are there for captioners?
At this time, there are no set standards for the industry. Real-time skills are
necessary for accurate translation while on the air, but the industry does not
require any special certifications or diplomas to become a captioner.
Why is now a good time to get into captioning?
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has implemented regulations that
require 100% of live English programming in the United States be captioned by
January of 2006. Each year until then, the number of hours that is required by
this mandate increase incrementally. Although accurate numbers are hard to
determine, it's estimated that there are less than 400 captioners in the United
States currently. The demand for this skill and expertise increases as the FCC's
regulations are realized. Many people in the industry consider captioning to be
the career of the future for court reporters.
Where can I get more information?
While information on this topic is limited, there are training programs,
seminars and resources available. Washington State Court Reporters Association
has enlisted the expertise of captioners in the state. Send an email to
AskACaptioner@aol.com, and a Washington State captioner will answer any
questions you have. The bigger companies, such as VITAC and Caption Colorado,
offer some training programs as well. Contact them for information regarding
their practices. Check
NCRA's website and the
Journal of Court
Reporting for upcoming events, seminars and up-to-date information regarding
rules, regulations and new certifications. Finally, check out
WCRA's
Newsletter. The section entitled "Captioning Corner" offers expertise from a
local captioner.