4:2: Electronic Publishing
Up one levelTechnical communication's relationship to electronic publishing differs a bit from that of other fields, such as computer science or literature. The articles in this issue begin to articulate some of the implications of electronic publishing for our field.
- The Effect of Changes in Publishing Technologies on Labor and Documentation
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Jeanie Comstock
Online publishing technologies is an ever-changing, morphing animal that cannot necessarily be predicted, but perhaps we can work to harness it. As publishing technologies change, so too will the style in which the readability of those documents change as they are shaped and designed to meet new formulas and needs. Likewise, as the readability and accessibility of documents change, so too must the interaction and intervention of the technical communicator change to ensure readable, articulate, navigable documentation, as well as preserve an author-reader relationship and also to preserve the role of the technical communicator. - You *Still* Can't Touch This: Copyright Law, Hip-Hop and Tech Comm
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Christian deMaagd
Perhaps unfortunately, the field of tech comm has few, if any, well-known examples of what happens to those who don’t pay attention to copyright issues. One of the most interesting areas in which to explore the perils of copyright violation is in the world of American hip-hop music. I will explore the similarities between the copyright issues faced by hip-hop artists, and those faced by technical communicators. - A Technical Communicator’s Role in Planning, Developing, and Maintaining a Corporate Intranet Site
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Tami Kays
Corporate intranet sites can be very powerful tools for employees. Unfortunately, many corporate intranet sites have not been successful. Often, intranets fail because they do not contain information that is useful to employees or they are too difficult or impossible to use. This paper describes a methodology that can be used when creating an intranet. The proposed methodology describes possible stages of an intranet project in a large company and the roles and contributions a technical communicator could provide.