From the President

February 2017

Welcome back to our first edition of TechCommWire for 2017, and thank you for reading. We're hoping to see you at Collaborate2017, our April conference in Auckland. And I've got a very short survey for you on researching matters of relevance to technical communicators.

Are you coming to Collaborate2017?

We'd love to see as many members as possible at the TechCommNZ conference in April. As our amazing conference organiser, Kaye Churches, says, it's an unmatched opportunity to meet and learn from colleagues and some of the global superstars of TC.

People go away from these conferences feeling affirmed, buoyed up and inspired by new ideas, and more confident in their role. We've heard it time and time again. That's why the TechCommNZ board goes to this trouble, to create an event that is worth your time and investment – because we know its incredible value to you, our members.

Earlybird registration closes on 10 March, so don't delay!

Abbreviated language and research

Abbreviated language is a bug-bear of mine at the moment. It's not necessarily that I deplore it, but more that I'm having difficulty locating research into its actual effect on clarity. Does it matter if we cut some of the little words out of sentences? For example, here's an instruction for general practitioners:

Request [a] specialist assessment if [the patient's] headache episodes [are] not controlled by [the] above treatments

Has anyone tested whether it helps or hinders the reader? This question got me thinking about research into matters central to our daily work. Earnsy Liu, in her quarterly What's the Evidence? column, often has a hard time finding research that answers the questions we pose. What if technical communicators, as a global network, were to crowd-fund some research? Would you give a little? Please complete my mini-survey and tell me whether you think this would fly: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crowdfundresearch.

Salary Survey

Congratulations to Michelle Isaac, Ario Smith, and Kate Dasler, who all won $100 Prezzy Cards in the Salary Survey draw.

We are looking forward to posting the results of the survey for members in March.

Until then, it's best wishes from me,