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

Subject: Re: Is tech writing a profession? Are we professionals?
From: Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 20:49:28 -0800


Phillip St. James wrote:



I'm simply curious how new and veteran tech writers see themselves with respect to being an official or unofficial professional and whether it's an important issue to them.


I believe there is a heuristical use of the word that connotes some sort of threshold, so I checked my dictionary: a professional (n.) is one that is professional (adj), which resolves (1st def) to one engaged in one of the learned professions. Hmmph. To my mind, it all comes back to professional (adj, 2nd def), meaning those who make a living at some activity otherwise practiced by hobbyists and amateurs.

Assuming the 'learned professions' are real and more edified, I think the range of professions must have some other official markers or milestones, but I don't know what they are. What is below professional? Unskilled? Artisanal? Blue collar?

The FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) and its interpretation have established a legal meaning of the term "professional" for purposes of overtime pay. It is odd to see the results of googling for 'technical writer' AND FLSA--apparently we are professionals (i.e., FLSA exempt) in some circumstances (or is it some states?) but not in others.

FYI, IYI (if you're interested) see 'job stuff' on www.andreas.com for an account of the machinations and outcomes vis a vis tech writers and overtime pay in California. I don't think 'Professional' status was at stake there. Other factors besides pay rate, considered in the FLSA definition of a Professional, don't seem to come up in these other deliberations undertaken to the same end of requiring/not requiring overtime pay.

Anyway, my $.02 (which is more than I've made in this profession lately).

Ned Bedinger
Ed Wordsmith Technical Communications



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

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