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From the Editor’s Desk
Mary Kerslake
Sometimes I think learning is what it’s all about. Certainly, in our business of communicating, we have to learn constantly. Not only do technologies leap ahead at an almost alarming rate, theories change, albeit at a lesser speed. When I first wrote reports, they were written in the passive voice. Now, it seems a hundred years later, I teach report writing and constantly stress the active voice. Of course, not all reports are written using the active voice, particularly scientific reports, but as I tell my students, “He who pays the piper, calls the tune.” In other words, if you can’t persuade otherwise those who are paying you, then give in and do it their way or get out.
Recently I was a student, myself, at a two-day seminar provided by Rockhurst University. The seminar encompassed the design of newsletters, brochures, adds, catalogs, etc. Much of what was taught I already knew, but the part that I didn’t know was well worth the cost. As an independent writer, I sat there counting the dollars, sharply aware that other students had both the seminar and their time paid by their companies. Consultant or employee, however, none of us can afford to stop learning. We have plenty of opportunities right here and now. Read the articles by Rose Webster, Michael Jeter, and Paula Neves for some examples.
In future newsletters, I am hoping to include tricks-of-the-trade and anything else that might be helpful. Please send me your helpful hints. Even if you think everyone knows them, I am sure many of us don’t. Please send me your ideas for articles, and also let me know what you are doing: changing jobs, looking for work, etc. Use this newsletter as a forum to help you network, build your portfolio, or just share with your fellow communicators: it’s your newsletter.
The Information Turnpike, Summer, 2003 Volume 1, Issue 2
The Information Turnpike, the newsletter of the New Jersey Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication is published for the benefit of its membership. Articles in this publication may be reprinted with the permission of the author. The copyright will remain the property of the author. This newsletter invites writers to submit articles to be considered for publication to Mary Kerslake, Editor, at mckerslake@aol.com. The newsletter staff reserves the right to shorten or edit articles as necessary for inclusion in the publication.
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