Technical Writer or Technical Communicator?

Technical Writers - #28 in Top 50 Jobs in America
Technical Writers are not just writers anymore! Most of us illustrate our manuals too, but that is after we learn the product by tearing it down, do testing on it, interview the design Engineers and put it back together. And let’s talk about ALL the software we use. Where I work we use up to 5 CAD applications and 4 publishing applications. Mostly because the software companies keep changing them and who has time to go back and convert all the out of production documentation? Especially when the Engineers keep designing new products. We also have to be web savy because alot of deliverables today are sent out via the internet and or on CD. We also are being recurited for assembly work instructions and interactive training. When will everyone listen to the STC and start giving us our new proper title, Technical Communicators! Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but the title just doesnt say it like it is.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2009/snapshots/28.html

Unemployment Held Up

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/08/news/economy/extending_unemployment_benefits/index.htm

Blog about Dustin's Comment
I bet Dustin has a job, because he doesn’t seem to understand these people need the unemployment to keep the basics, housing and food. Healthcare is not an option for these people, you cannot afford cobra insurance when you are on unemployment. Most don’t realize that in most states if you own a home you cannot get food stamps or any other type of help. And with the housing market it is today, you can’t sell your house to buy food. People are stuck. One of the reasons people are also out of work is because of lean manufacturing, tons of positions were lost, this was needed for America to contend with competition. But if the government would do away with NAFTA, and actually make other countries trade equally or not at all with us, these people could get back to work. NAFTA is the main root cause of all this mess.