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Subject:Does marketing and technical writing mix? From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- AXIONET -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 9 Jan 1998 20:18:52 -0500
Looking at the subject of this thread, I can't help thinking that the
question is somewhat besides the point.
That is, at many companies, especially small ones, the question is not
whether marcom and tech-writing mix, but _how_ to mix them.
Increasingly, employers are asking the same people to do both.
As a result, many writers aren't asking whether the two mix, but what
mix they're comfortable with. And that, of course, raises some fairly
obvious ethical issues.
My personal position is that, while a little marcom is a welcome change,
it's not my main interest. However, if I find a product unobjectionable
enough to write manuals for it, it is also something I can promote, so
long as I don't fall into exaggerations or lies.
"Then fareweel ye banks o' Sicily,
Fare ye weel ye valley an' shaw,
There's nae Jock will mourn the kyles o' ye,
Puir bluidie swaddies are weary."
- Hamish Henderson,
"The 51st Division's Farewell to Sicily"
