How to Get a Job Closed Captioning TV Shows
Having a career in closed captioning can be both fun and rewarding. While working in closed captioning for television shows, you will learn to pay attention to detail, type faster than you ever thought possible and watch TV all at the same time.
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Things You'll Need
- A computer
- A stenograph (if pursuing real-time captioning)
- A dictionary
Instructions
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How to Get a Job Closed Captioning TV Shows
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There are companies in most metropolitan areas in the United States that outsource closed-captioned television shows to television and production companies. To get a job at one of these companies, try using an online job search engine like Craigslist.com or Monster.com to find closed captioning jobs in your area.
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Decide whether you would like to pursuit a job in online or off-line captioning. Online captioning, despite the name, has nothing to do with the internet. Online captioning happens in real time, while the show is being broadcast. Online captioning is usually used for live shows such as sports broadcasts or the news. Online captioning requires the knowledge and use of a stenography machine. Off-line captioning is much easer to learn and break into. These shows are pre-recorded and captioned at your leisure. There is plenty of time to rewind, pause and rework sections that are confusing. There should be absolutely no errors in off-line captioning.
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To get a job in closed captioning, whether online or off-line, you will probably be required to have a typing speed of at least 70 words per minute, but usually more. Practice your typing before you go in for a job interview in captioning, as they will probably give you a typing test. A great place to take practice typing tests online is at TypingTest.com.
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Practice your grammar and accuracy before going in for your first closed captioning job interview. You may be given a test based on current programming and tested on how accurate your typing and grammar are. Pay close attention to the spelling of characters' names and geographic locations when you are typing.
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When you score a job in closed captioning, the pay can be lucrative, but the constant typing may be difficult on your fingers. To avoid getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome once you've been hired, always type with an ergonomic keyboard and wear arm braces at work to help strengthen your joints.
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Tips & Warnings
Prior transcribing experience may help you get hired.
Previous knowledge of closed captioning computer programs is beneficial.
If you are bilingual, many production companies hire captioners to translate and subtitle movies.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu/profile/hisks
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Comments
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I would like to this job.
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Anonymous
Sep 23, 2011
Prior transcribing experience will DEFINITELY help you get hired. I own East Texas Captioning and wee do "offline closed captioning'. Because we only do offline we are able to hire "work at home" transcribers. So that's another aspect of the industry that may be appealing to some. While the pay scale is a bit lower, it offers a great "second" revenue stream. -
Prior transcribing experience will DEFINITELY help you get hired. I own East Texas Captioning and wee do "offline closed captioning'. Because we only do offline we are able to hire "work at home" transcribers. So that's another aspect of the industry that may be appealing to some. While the pay scale is a bit lower, it offers a great "second" revenue stream.
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I just watched a re-broadcast of the Royal Wedding, and used the CC function to understand the British accents. I was appalled by how inept the stenographer was: backing up to correct spelling, mishearing dialogue, leaving out portions that were essential to the event.
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I used to be a court reporter and wanted to learn more about the closed captioning. I checked years ago when I was court reporting but at that time all captioning jobs were out of state.
