Technical Communication: A View from Below
by Jonathan W. Baker

As August winds down, I am struggling to put some thoughts together about the field of Technical Communication. I don’t know about you, but I am worn out talking about the economy, the changing technical communications field, the war in Iraq, terrorism, and just about everything else. In fact I am so bummed that I want a special SIG set up for burnt out, fried, and otherwise abused, technical communicators. Maybe we can call it the Walking Wounded SIG or the Burnt Up, Used Up, Dried Up SIG.

OK. I am honestly trying to be funny. But there is some truth to the idea that this field is at least 3 years into perhaps the worst downward spiral we have experienced in 50 years. And many of us are feeling less than perfect, compared to how we felt about ourselves a few years back. I mean, don’t you just want to have some fun, like back in the good old days of 1999. Everything was rock and roll, way back then. Jobs were plentiful and if you didn’t have one on Monday, you surely would have a choice between two or three jobs on Tuesday.

So, how do we go about feeling better about our field and ourselves? I would suggest that this is a great time to go back to school. Whether you take a course in RoboHelp or Java, whether you get into a degreed program or take an evening school crafts course, you will be doing something to help yourself. Everything you learn eventually adds value.

Last spring, I took a motorcycle maintenance course. I thought this wasn’t related to technical communication, but then I learned that there actually are technical communicators out there putting together the motorcycle service manuals we used in class. It never occurred to me that my skills could be used in this business.

Another positive that came out of taking the class was that it got me out of the house and got me thinking about something other than work. There is LOTS of value in that.

A few years back I took a Webmasters’ certificate program from a local university. It gave my career a good kick at a time I needed it. The interesting thing is that I really never became a Webmaster, but it sure is great to have that knowledge in my inventory of skills. Employers liked to see my interest in learning, too. I don’t think it really mattered to them what the subject matter was; it showed that I was engaged and willing to learn. If you want to stay in this field for the near term, maybe it is time to sign up for that technical course to advance your skills and differentiate yourself from everyone else.
Personally, I do believe that many in STC want to do nothing more than be good technical communicators. And that is a great goal. Not all of us should move on to other things like information architecture, usability, or project management. Some writers simply want to be writers and some editors want nothing more than to edit. To stay in these areas, advanced technical knowledge is essential. The more you have, the better. Some of us will go on to those other disciplines, but it doesn’t change the fact that we are all communicators and need to keep our skills - both technical and communication - fresh.

If you haven’t been back to school in the last 3 years, it is time for you to give it serious thought. The STC Web site (www.stc.org/academic.asp) has listings of some educational programs that are meaningful to our field, but don’t forget to check out your local colleges and universities. I just found out that there is a college in Massachusetts which is providing a very robust program in Communication and Information Science. And yet, even with years of chapter experience in Massachusetts, I had never heard of this program. So the message is to get out there and turn over some stones to find some of the neat things going on in your own community.

I am about to embark on my next learning adventure - a Masters of Science, Human Factors in Information Design. I recommend that you do the same.

On the STC front, the transformation is progressing. If you haven’t heard about the transformation or aren’t clear on what is happening with the transformation, contact me or the Director of your choice for further information. If we don’t have the answers, we probably know someone who does. Be sure to check out the transformation pages on the STC Web site - www.stc.org/transformation/Default.asp. (NOTE: you do have to log in to get to this page). The Web site is the authoritative source. There are still lots of transformation activities underway and the Board will be reporting out on the current status of our efforts soon after the September Board meeting. In addition, we are already planning sessions on the transformation for our annual conference in May. If there is something you want to see or hear from us, let us know.

Look for some changes in your membership renewal forms this year. We are beginning to roll out the new membership packages – Classic, Limited, E-Membership, and others – this fall. Again, if you have questions about these packages, contact me or another Director. In addition, the office will be able to answer any questions about the membership packages.

Finally, it is September. That means your chapter is about to get into full gear. I’ve chatted with many of the Region 1 chapter presidents and you have a great group of people working on your behalf. Get out and support them by attending chapter events. It is a great way to network and keep up with your local technical communications community. In fact, volunteer! Most chapters will welcome you with open arms. And chapter work is extraordinarily rewarding. So jump in and see what happens.

Jonathan W. Baker is Director/Sponsor of Region 1.
He can be reached at baker_jonathan@emc.com.