RE: TC vs TW

["Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>]

What you describe sounds a lot like what (as you must be painfully
aware) has happened at the university and junior college, where many,
many classes are taught by underpaid, no-status, non-tenure track
"assistant professors". Is there a solution?

Leonard C. Porrello
 
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of David Hailey
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 8:25 AM
To: Technical Writer; Gene Kim-Eng; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: TC vs TW

>>>"The sad part is that such concepts form the basis of many academic
programs in "technical communication."<<<


Like graphic design, illustration, and copywriting, technical writing is
evolving into a freelance-driven profession  -- that means a future with
fewer jobs, lower wages, and fewer benefits. I earlier mentioned that in
some places 45% of the job listings were contracted. The spooky thing is
that the vast majority of contract jobs are never listed. There is no
telling what percentage of TW jobs are outsourced or insourced or
offshored, but it has to be well over 50% already, and the trend is only
beginning.


Technical communicators who really ARE technical communicators, have a
broader foundation with more opportunities for innovation and promotion,
AND if they have complicated jobs that demand a variety of skills, their
jobs are more inoculated from outsourcing. Tech comm. programs that give
their students a broad and technically current degree, are doing their
students a great service.

Many technical writers are comfortable with the "old" traditions, but
I'm here to tell you the traditions are changing.


David E. Hailey, Jr., Ph.D.
Associate Professor -- Professional and Technical Writing
Utah State University
dhailey -at- english -dot- usu -dot- edu


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