What’s a Broadcast Captioner’s role?

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A broadcast captioner is responsible for providing closed captioned text during a live television broadcast, usually utilizing a computer system and software similar to the equipment used by a courtroom stenographer. Subtitlers can work on-site at a network or television station, although they can also travel from home, which often requires a larger upfront investment on the part of the subtitler. A broadcast captioner typically watches a live television broadcast feed as it is being sent to homes and other receivers and provides real-time captioning through the use of a keyboard designed to make abbreviated typing easier and more efficient.

While there are different types of subtitles, a broadcast subtitle is responsible for generating subtitle text to accompany a live stream. This text can be seen on televisions designed to be closed captioned, which is quite common on newer sets, and appears as text at the top or bottom of the screen. This captioning can be quite advantageous for individuals who are hard of hearing or deaf, as they are better able to understand what is said without having to read the lips of those on the screen.

A broadcast subtitler’s primary duties involve viewing a live broadcast and typing the subtitles for that program in real time. News broadcasts, for example, are often closed-captioned, as are other television programs. These broadcasts are sent from the network or station live, however, which means subtitlers can’t just type captions for them in advance. This is usually done by Legionnaires offline for recorded broadcasts. A broadcast subtitler therefore needs to be able to type quickly and accurately to allow the system to relay the text of what is being said by a news station in real time, often with only a few seconds of delay between the spoken content and the subtitles.

While a broadcast subtitler may work over a network or station, subtitlers may also work from home, often with computer equipment and software that allow them to connect to a network over the Internet. A broadcast captioner uses an input keyboard much like that used by a court stenographer, allowing him to enter an abbreviation. This makes entering caption data faster, although it also typically requires several years of professional training to become fully proficient with that abbreviation.

Because the systems are very similar, a broadcast subtitler can also work as a court stenographer. Certifications are offered by different associations, such as the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) in the US, for both professions. During a major news release or an emergency, captioners can work long hours, typing quickly and accurately to ensure that information is conveyed to those who may be in need.

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