Re: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

[Mike Starr <mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com>]

I've been objecting to STC's effort to change the definition of the job as listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles published by the US Department of Labor. My objection isn't to the changed title (technical communicator) but to the fact that the definition text they want DOL to adopt contains no reference whatsoever to writing or writer. If that happens, someone searching for a technical *writer* won't find that title.

Mike
--
Mike Starr                            WriteStarr Information Services
Technical Writer  -  Online Help Developer  -   Technical Illustrator
Graphic Designer    -    Desktop Publisher   -       MS Office Expert
(262)  694-1028  -  mike -at- writestarr -dot- com  -  http://www.writestarr.com

Bill Swallow wrote:
> I'm more of a Technical PITA these days. ;-)
> 
> Some technical communicators don't write well and some technical
> writers don't communicate well outside of writing. Then again some
> technical writers architect information but not all information
> architects are technical writers. These days, not all techncial
> writers write, technically.
> 
> And though I'm having fun, I'm being serious.
> 
> I don't see a ROE in lobbying to change the title on the labor books.
> I'd rather see the effort spent on documenting the exceptions as
> subclasses to the job, whatever it's called.
> 
> On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 1:55 PM, John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com> wrote:
>> FWIW, we were discussing this at the January STC Board of Directors
>>  meeting.  We'd like to move the terminology from "technical writers"
>>  to "technical communicators," in large part because we do more than
>>  just write.  The lines between what's business writing vs. technical
>>  writing are a bit blurry, but, then, so are the lines between many
>>  other similar job titles in our field.
> 
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