communication department

Doug Davis and The Business of Technical Communication

STC's online columnist gives you strategic information on the business world.

STC's print publications cover research and its application (Technical Communication) as well as advice on doing your job better and getting a better job (Intercom). What else do our members need to read about?

That's what the STC office asked itself when it decided to publish an online column. "We decided what was missing was strategic business information specifically for technical communicators," says Director of Communication Maurice Martin. "Someone who is looking more at the forest than the trees. We cover some of that in our print pubs, but we thought a column focused specifically on the business of technical communication would have great value to our members."

The search for an online columnist led to Doug Davis, a 12-year member of STC and president of ProEdit, a technical communication staffing and project services company. His combination of  technical communication experience--more than 23 years'--and his insight into managers and their staffing needs give him a broad range of insights.  

So far, Davis' columns have covered geographic shifts in demands for technical communicators; the shift in emphasis from tool skills to industry knowledge among employers; and the shifting geography of demand among employers. "We think Doug's column gives our members a perspective they would not have otherwise," says Martin. "And from the e-mail responses I've seen, it looks like this is something STC members have been looking for."

Martin suggests that STC members check out Doug Davis' "The Business of Technical Communication" at www.stc.org/pubs/onlinePubs01.asp and send comments to ddavis@ProEdit.com with a CC to maurice@stc.org. "Let us know what you think," says Martin.