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Subject:Re: Titles for Technical Writers From:Sella Rush <SellaR -at- APPTECHSYS -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 9 Jan 1997 14:51:02 -0800
Michael,
I asked this question a couple of months ago, so I'll pass on to you
what the responses were.
I ended up with the title "writer"! Apparently my boss had a prejudice
against "technical" writer, because the tech writers he'd known in the
past--at other companies--had just written manuals and nothing else,
while he wanted me to be doing a variety of things like marketing
literature, online help, etc. He liked communications specialist, but
that made me think I should be in the bowels of a ship somewhere peering
into a radar screen (or whatever it is they're doing on those Navy
ads--be all you can be).
Here's an edited reposting of my summary, which included both frivolous
and serious suggestions:
My personal favorite, suggested by Mike Starr (WriteStarr -at- aol -dot- com), is
"Minister of Propaganda." It has just the right amount of cynicism for
me.
Others that fall in the frivolous category include: Supreme Word
Goddess (or God), Chief in Charge of Words and Pictures (for those
clients who need *everything* spelled out), Knowledge Broker (which I
think was seriously suggested to one TW by a collegue), and Word Nerd.
(NOTE: the minister suggestion did NOT go down well with the PC
police.)
Here are the serious suggestions. Thanks to everyone for all your input
and the laughs on the side.
editor
writer
technical editor
technical communicator (this and the next one were the most popular)
information developer
information designer
publications officer
communications specialist
information specialist
information design specialist
information engineer
information resource specialist
technical author
Some people suggested adding words that might lend some clout to a
title:
managing editor (Lou Grant connotations)
project manager/lead--technical communications
senior blah de blah
blah de blah manager
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sella Rush
Applied Technical Systems, Inc. (ATS)
Bremerton, Washington USA
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