The National Court Reporters Association, the country’s leading organization representing stenographic court reporters, captioners and legal videographers, thanked Governor Kay Ivey on Monday for issuing an official proclamation declaring February 7–14 2026 Court Reporting and Captioning Week in the state.
Members of the Alabama Court Reporters Association secured the official proclamation.
This year’s theme, “Peace, Love, & Steno,” provides a platform for members to share with the public, potential students and members of the legal field, more about the important work they do, roles they serve, and the potential adventures at home and abroad this career with benefits offers, the NCRA’s press release shared.
“We are asking the media to help us showcase the stenographic court reporting and captioning professions this year by spotlighting local court reporters and captioners through interviews and sharing with viewers how they capture the spoken word and preserve it in text,” said NCRA President Cindy Issacsen, an official court reporter from Shawnee, Kansas.
NCRA members, state affiliates, court reporting schools, students, vendors and others affiliated with the legal world will use the week to highlight why stenographic court reporting and captioning “is the gold standard for making the most accurate record when it comes to capturing the spoken word.”
Members will also share why they love their jobs and more about this career choice that does not require a four-year degree or the hefty tuition costs typically associated with it.
“The demand for stenographic court reporters and captioners is at an all-time high right now. It can take on average as little as two years to complete a stenographic court reporting program, allowing those who choose this career path the ability for nearly instant employment without the debt of a four-year college degree,” said Issacsen.
Court reporters and captioners rely on the latest in technology to use stenographic machines to capture the spoken word and translate it into written text in real time. These professionals work both in and out of the courtroom recording legal cases and depositions, providing live captioning of events, and assisting members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities with gaining access to information, entertainment, educational opportunities and more.
“If you’re looking for a career that is on the cutting-edge of technology, offers the opportunity for work at home or abroad, like to write, enjoy helping others, and are fast with your fingers, then the fields of court reporting and captioning are careers you can explore at NCRA/discoversteno.org,” the NCRA stated.
The NCRA A to Z Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program, a free online six-week introductory course, lets participants see if a career in court reporting or captioning would be a good choice for them. The program is an introduction to stenographic theory and provides participants with the opportunity to learn the basics of writing on a steno machine.
