RE: Define technical communicator's job

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

My argument is that "technical communicator" is not a job or a title.
Technical communication is a field that comprises many jobs and titles, but
"technical communicator" cannot replace any title in the field of technical
communication.  A person in the field may do many jobs, but having one job
in the field does not mean that a person in the field will automatically be
able to perform another job.  Technical writers who "create and
illustrations (and CAD) as part of their jobs" are not graphics designers
because they are technical writers.  They are capable of performing two
distinct jobs within the field of technical communication.

Technical communication is communication of technical subject matter to
general or specific audiences using any variety of graphics, publication, or
media tools.  A technical communicator is a person performing any job or
holding any title within the field of technical communication.

Lauren


> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Sean Brierley
> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:22 PM
> To: techwr-l List
> Subject: RE: Define technical communicator's job
> 
> That's an interesting approach. I have two suggestions: 
> 
> 1) If you don't like this one or the previous one, suggest a change.
> Revise it. Submit the changes. It's easy to cast stones. Use 
> your skillz
> as a tech writer and hone the message.
> 
>  2) Believe it or not, some technical writers create and illustrations
> (and CAD) as part of their jobs. Thus, the definition I 
> provide does not
> say "a graphic illustrator and a technical writer are both technical
> communicators" nor does it claim the jobs are interchangeable, but my
> definition does say that the communication a technical communicator
> creates "can include" illustrations. Some technical documents use
> pictures as much or more than words (Ikea, Lego).
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Sean
> 

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