Will I be working with a digital reporter or a licensed court reporter?
Some agencies employ "reporters" or "digital reporters". Steno only works with Certified Shorthand Reporters (CSRs).
CSRs are highly trained, licensed professionals who transcribe spoken words using a stenotype machine. They must pass a rigorous test to become certified and they fill a critical role in the justice system: They create verbatim transcripts of judicial proceedings and can also provide instantaneous readback, real-time, rough drafts, and expedites.
In California, unless all parties agree otherwise, only transcripts created by CSRs are valid as evidence. See CCP section 2025.310(a).