Voice Reporting -the greatest job that no one even knows exists
For nearly two years Scarlett O’Rork has served as the “keeper of the record” for New Hanover and Pender counties — a vital role in the justice system that she didn’t discover until her mid-50s.
“The thing that I love most about this job is that … it is a job that I wake up happy to do and excited about and it hasn’t stopped,” O’Rork said. “From the moment I picked up the mask and started learning about this and about the community, (I’ve learned) something new every day. I’m excited about what I do, and I really take pride in creating these transcripts.”
As a court reporter, O’Rork transcribes a range of criminal and civil proceedings. Certified at 225 words per minute, she works as voice reporter, repeating everything that is said in the courtroom into a stenomask — a face mask with a specialized microphone used to capture and covert dialogue into a written form.
Although the job is lucrative, fulfilling, and provides the support of a “wonderful, close-knit group of people,” O’Rork said there’s a shortage of court reporters. While the shortage can partially be attributed to high startup costs, since court reporters are responsible for purchasing their own equipment and software, she primarily points to a lack of awareness about the profession.
“It’s the greatest job that no one even knows exists,” O’Rork said. “There’s not a lot of knowledge of what we do.”
