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Subject:Journalism and technical communication From:"Larry Kunz ((919) 254-6395)" <ldkunz -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 3 Mar 1994 09:50:37 EST
Cinty Li writes:
> I am a journalist. Can I be a technical writer?
Lessee. . . .
Your job consists of taking information, which is often specialized
and complex, and presenting it to readers who are nonspecialists.
You're good at interviewing. You know how to prepare for an interview
by learning the subject matter, you know who the best sources are
(regardless of office or job title), and you know how to cultivate
relationships with those sources.
You can organize information so that your readers get the gist of
the story as quickly as possible.
You're used to writing under time pressure, and you know the joy
of working with eagle-eyed editors.
You're flexible, and you know your writing isn't going to make you
rich.
I'd say you're *exceptionally* well qualified to be a technical
writer. Heed the advice in Chuck Banks' excellent posting, and
welcome aboard!
Larry Kunz
STC Region 2 Director-Sponsor
ldkunz -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
