Technical Writing Certifications

[Ned Bedinger]

Yves JEAUROND continued the longest (perhaps only) brilliant streak in 
techwr-l history when writing among other things:

> [further reading / ad, sort of]...
>  After seeing Moore's _Sicko_, one wonders 
 > if the US worker's anguish to obtain medical 

 > insurance has crept into obtaining
 > "employment insurance" in the form
 > of a certificate?  :-)

This is the most promising reason I have seen for endorsing 
credentializing of tech writers.

Unfortunately, tech writer credentializing is unlikely to ever work out, 
IMHO, in that way since certification is conceived and intended, not as 
a way to do something for tech writers, but as a way of ingratiating the 
academics, editors, science writers, ad nauseum, of STC to employers.

Would that STC was interested in ingratiating themselves to the 
professional tech writers they presume to represent.

And now I will add my political piece to this:  Just say no to any more 
fumbling attempts by the fumbling STC to define professional technical 
writing for tech writers, employers, ISO, or anyone else. They've been 
botching it for years. Fire them and let tech writers fend for themselves.

Pardon my french!

Ned Bedinger
doc at edwordsmith.com