U.S. Government Recognizes Technical Communication as Distinct Profession

News from STC.org:

The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its newest Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) in December and, as STC announced in April, “Technical Writer” has its own chapter for the very first time.

“This is a breakthrough achievement for STC and for the profession of technical communication,” said STC President Cynthia C. Currie. “It is the result of a long-standing relationship with economist Richard O’Sullivan and our vision that technical writers (and all technical communicators) be recognized as the special breed of communicator they are.”

O’Sullivan, principal of Change Management Solutions, is an association economist who has been advising BLS for 25 years and assisted STC in this endeavor. “To go from where we were in late 2006 when STC approached OMB to having a new category of technical writer in 2010 is amazing,” said O’Sullivan. “Usually, putting through changes like this can take up to a decade. But our argument was compelling and the differences STC focused on were clearly apparent and hard for OMB to argue against. We had our proof in the marketplace.”

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Local STC Members Elevated to the Rank of Fellow

Each year, the Society for Technical Communication (STC) bestows honorary ranks--Fellow, Associate Fellow, and Honorary Fellow--to members who have been recognized as leaders in the field of technical communication. We have just learned that longtime STC members Russell Friend and Thomas Reed have been named STC Fellows by the Society's Board of Directors.

The rank of fellow is conferred upon associate fellows who have attained such eminence in the field of technical communication that the board, by a two-thirds vote of all members, deems them worthy of being singled out as one of the select few who have distinguished the Society and the profession. Associate fellows may not apply directly to the Board for the rank of fellow. Associate fellows may submit their applications to the Fellows Nominating Committee. The committee evaluates all applications and nominates candidates to the Board.

Congratulations, Russ and Tom! Our community appreciates the good work you do here in Chicago! A complete list of 2010 Fellows and Associate Fellows can been found here.

University of Chicago Building Featured in At-a-Glance

In January, the At-a-Glance contest featured a photo of the Max Palevsky Residential Commons. Located on the Hyde Park campus of the University of Chicago, this postmodern building was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.

Congratulations to those who responded with the correct answer! For the name of this month's winner, see www.stc-chicago.org.