Re: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

No, I'm just quibbling over terms, like everyone else
in this thread.  I agree with you on most points about
the skills and capabilities technical writers need to
maintain themselves as high-value professionals in
the modern world.  Where we disagree is on this
business of new age job descriptions.

It *does* matter what technical writers call themselves,
if they want prospective employers and clients to look
at their resume and business card titles and think,
"I need to talk to this person," rather than, "WTF is a
technical communicator?" or worse, "No, I'm looking
for a technical writer."

I am a technical writer, illustrator, editor and
publications/project manager.  If I can put on a lot
of hats and do a lot of jobs, I want to list *all* of
them on my resume, using names my intended
readers will recognize, not throw them all away
and substitute something that *nobody* will
recognize just because it somehow makes me
feel better.  Your list of job titles sounds to me as if
you've spent some time in marketing, and if this is
so, it confuses the hell out of me that you don't
seem to see this point.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Hailey" <david -dot- hailey -at- usu -dot- edu>
I find this somewhat amazing.  All along, I have been saying that in the real 
world what we need to do is be communicators and not just writers.  I have said 
again and again, it doesn't matter what we call ourselves, but it matters what 
we do.

You suggest somehow I am wrong, then write an argument that supports me, but say 
you want to call the people who do technical communication, "technical writers." 
Call them anything you like as long as in the real world they are technical 
communicators.

As an aside, my path to technical communication was graphic artist, art 
director, publications coordinator, managing editor/technical writer (including 
documentation), innovations editor, training developer, and educator.  I have 
been in, and remain in the real world.

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