Re: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

[Beth Agnew <Beth -dot- Agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>]

I don't see anything wrong with having a profession of Technical 
Communication and the practitioners within it calling themselves 
anything they like, from technical communicator, technical illustrator, 
web developer, information developer, and documentation specialist, to 
information officer, usability guru, documentalist, performance support 
evangelist, or even typer. :-) If it gets you hired, and paid, it ain't 
wrong.
--Beth

Bill Swallow wrote:

>That's all well and good, but that comprised about 10% of my total job
>function when I was a technical writer.
>
>We place a lot of emphasis on the types of work we do but not nearly
>enough on the reason why we do it. In that light, 'technical writer'
>vs. 'technical communicator' means nothing if in the end employers are
>looking for skills and not returns. And I agree with Gene's comment
>about employers possibly overlooking 'technical communicators' when
>they're looking for 'technical writers'.
>
>Just because the scope of what we do changes over time does not mean
>that there's a sudden urgency to change the title, particularly if
>that change is poorly communicated out to those who absolutely are
>affected by it. And of that audience, the last who needs to know are
>those not remotely concerned with the job role, followed closely by
>technical writers.
>
>On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 11:29 AM, Collin Turner
><straylightsghost -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>  
>
>>My daughter just calls me a "Typer". People seem to understand that...
>>    
>>
>
>  
>

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.