Ashes or Phoenix? Technical Communication or Information Design?
http://www.stc.org/confproceed/2002/PDFs/STC49-00002.pdf

Reynolds, Alison
STC Proceedings
2002

Abstract:

The results of a study of 28 New Zealand technical communicators show that practitioners in this country are undergoing the same role redefinition as their colleagues in the US. New Zealand practitioners are no longer just 'wordsmiths' but are using a wide range of multimedia skills to design and produce user-ready information products. Practitioners were interviewed to find out what their roles were, how their roles had changed and what skills they believed were essential to be a successful technical communicator. The results revealed a group of highly motivated problem solvers and a profession that is evolving to use the core competencies of information design with new strength and energy.