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January 2009
Intercom: January 2009
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APEX Award for Publication Excellence in 2009

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Intercom: January 2009

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Intercom, the magazine of the Society for Technical Communication, is published to provide examples and applications of technical communication that will promote its readers' professional development.

A special issue on Web 2.0 A special issue on Web 2.0

Full Download

The Complete January 2009 Issue PDF File STC Members Only

Feature Articles

Embracing the Un: When the Community Runs the Event PDF File [ FREE! ]
By: Anne Gentle, Senior Member, and Janet Swisher, Senior Member
With the explosion of Web 2.0 come two new kinds of community events: BarCamps and BookSprints. Gentle and Swisher share their experiences with these unconferences.
Caught in the Current of Writer River: Building and Participating in Community-driven Websites PDF File STC Members Only
By: Tom Johnson, Member
Have you ever felt inundated by the immense volume of information on the web? Read about Tom Johnson’s website Writer River, where members can post and filter articles, and the challenges he faced with its creation.
Your Wiki Isn’t Wikipedia: How to Use It for Technical Communication PDF File STC Members Only
By: Stewart Mader
Learn how to use a wiki as an organizational tool within your company.
Web 2.0, Wikis, and Books PDF File STC Members Only
By: Adam Hyde
The founder of FLOSS manuals discusses the intersection of books and Web 2.0 and the continuing evolution of publishing and technology.
Technical Communicators Put the “Public” in Public Health PDF File STC Members Only
By: Thomas Barker, Fellow
How does Web 2.0 fit into the world of public health? STC Fellow, Dr. Thomas Barker discusses the values of social networking in regards to largescale public disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and the SARS outbreak.
The Road to Personas PDF File STC Members Only
By: Elizabeth Filippo
Who are your users? How do they work? How do your products fit into their routines? Filippo discusses audience analysis and developing user profiles to create effective user assistance.

Departments

What’s New in STC’s Journal? PDF File STC Members Only
By: Menno D.T. de Jong, Editor-in-Chief, Technical Communication
Editor of Technical Communication, Menno de Jong discusses what STC members can expect to see in the February 2009 issue.
F.Y.I.
F.Y.I. PDF File STC Members Only
Check here for upcoming events of interest to technical communicators.
Off Hours
Jazzing It Up in the Emerald City PDF File STC Members Only
By: Tara Ebrahimi, Assistant Editor
According to STC member and jazz musician Matso Limtiaco, there are many similarities between technical communication and musical composition.
New Products
New Products PDF File STC Members Only
A brief overview of new products from Adobe, ComponentOne, and MadCap Software.

Society Pages

Society Pages PDF File [ FREE! ]
This month’s Society Pages feature articles about STC’s 56th Annual Conference speakers, early bird rates for the conference, as well as how to get support from your supervisor to attend the conference. Also included are two brief pieces about the 2009 elections, including the preliminary slate of candidates and solicitations for Intercom articles. Read about the Marian Norby Scholarship and a new course in the technical communication program at the University of Colorado.

Columns

The XML Strategist
Web 2.0: The Tipping Point for XML PDF File STC Members Only
By: Sarah O’Keefe, Associate Fellow
Have you been waiting for the right time to switch to XML publishing? O’Keefe illustrates that with the advent of Web 2.0, the time is now.
Teaching Technical Communication
Keeping Current PDF File [ FREE! ]
By: Alexa Campbell, Fellow
With the world changing so rapidly these days, it’s important to stay current and relevant as a teacher of technical communication. Campbell gives tips on how to ensure you are up-to-date.