I don’t understand how some reporters are able to accurately report on court proceedings.
Yesterday, I was juggling a camera, notepad and a pen, all while my heart was pounding a mile a minute because of the adrenaline.
Clearly, I have a lot to learn.
I really do enjoy courts. It’s nice to have the prosecution and defense lay out both sides of the stories – all I have to do is take notes. Also, court records are a reporters best friend. They clearly lay out the facts of each case and every motion filed.
However, when it comes to taking notes in court, whether it is on a computer or a notepad, it is significantly harder. Your fingers have to start flying across the keyboard as you also have to listen intently to what is being said.
Did he just say $25,000 or $250,000?
Wait, who did the attorney just point out as the victim’s mother?
Did he say the 2nd or the 22nd?
Facts fly by like race cars and you have to sort through the blur for the facts you need for your story. And in court you can’t ask someone to repeat what they said just cause you didn’t hear it.
I’ve also found that it is very difficult to find lawyers afterward to confirm facts or the spellings of their names. Sometimes you are able to get those details ahead of time, or maybe you are lucky enough to find them on the internet.
In the end, I’m finding that I have a lot more skills to learn when reporting court cases. Man, it’s really hard to get facts straight when you are a visual learner!
