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Re: Is tech writing a profession? Are we professionals?

Subject: Re: Is tech writing a profession? Are we professionals?
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 10:15:36 -0800


Phillip St. James wrote:

I've been in the uncomfortable situation where I had to document for the State of Hawaii's Dept. of Labor whether tech writing is a craft or a profession in a 1099/W-2 dispute. This agency decided for a number of reasons that we are a craft or journeyman group. Any ideas?

Out of curiosity, what is the distinction that is being made between a craft and a profession? What were the reasons for the final decision? And what are the implications of the decision, if any?

My uninformed response to the question is that tech-writers aren't professionals in the generally accepted sense of the term. That is, no credentials are necessary to work as a tech-writer, and no self-governing body exists to set standards or handle complaints.

All of which, of course, is very different from acting in a professional manner.

--
Bruce Byfield
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield

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References:
Is tech writing a profession? Are we professionals?: From: Phillip St. James

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