A system for transcription is controlled and optimized by computer software which implements a competitive market for jobs is presented. Jobs are characterized by type, deadline, domain, difficulty, pay rate, customer and other factors. Editors are given credentials to perform jobs based on a complex of editor and job characteristics, and all editors qualified for a given job may then perform actions to preview and to claim the job. Job characteristics are adjusted dynamically to ensure that they are completed accurately and according to schedule.