TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Tech writer vs. Information Developer From:Gene Ledbetter <gledbet -at- HEARTLAND -dot- BRADLEY -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 11 Aug 1995 10:57:11 CDT
Stuart Burnfield:
> I'm a bit suspicious of titles that end in 'Engineer'.
> Itmakes me think that the person is slightly ashamed of
> their profession and is worried that it lacks status.
This practice does have have practical implications, Stuart.
I was once a Publications Engineer in the Missile Systems
Division Technical Publications Department at Lockheed/-
Sunnyvale. We were classified as engineers so our department
could be part of the engineering directorate, rather than
administration. It worked. We were treated with respect and
cooperation by other engineers. (The entry-level salary of a
Publications Engineer was actually higher than that of a
Field Engineer.)