The Importance of Training Communication Professionals

Figure 1. Journalism 

Modern technology has had an impact on professional communicators.  One factor is the struggle to keep up with the forever evolving software.  Another reason for the impact is due largely to the fact that these professionals do not have the knowledge nor were they properly trained to use new technology.  All individuals could struggle keeping up to date with the evolution of technology.  Technology updates occur at a high frequency.  Companies are always finding ways to meet the demands of producing better quality, better software, and the demand for more in general.  Seeing as we are immersed in the digital world more often, it is natural to demand better quality and for companies to try to meet and surpass those demands in order to keep persons content.  There is always a natural adjustment period that involves some struggling.  However, while many of us can find the time to learn these updates and familiarize ourselves, professional communicators often do not have that luxury.  “Constant deadlines often restrict documentation teams from acquiring the necessary information on the latest software tools that could make their jobs easier and more efficient.” (Catanio & Catanio, 2008)  Often, their work schedules could also contest with the communication professional’s time to learn the ins and outs of new software and other technologies as well. 

Training, or lack thereof, has a huge impact on those in the communication field.  Communicators are forced to learn new skills quickly, often without any guidance, and forget about the ones they were

Figure 2. Tech Predictions

previously once familiar with.  Communicators are then left wondering which advancements are the most important and should be utilized immediately “and yet, not be so complicated to learn and use that it impinges upon the writer’s ability to perform his or her job.” (Catanio & Catanio, 2008)  The only way to understand the impact is to go back and look at just how drastically the communications jobs have changed.  When technical communicators first started working, all they had to worry about were “mainframe and mini-computers serving large numbers of users and housed in large, specially cooled places…the job titles of technical communicators –writer, editor, or illustrator-reflected their role in the production of technical content.” (Carliner, 2010)  A significant shift started to occur in the 1980s when the personal computer was first introduced.  From here, communication professionals were forced to meet higher demands, learn more information, and multitask.  Flash forward to the 21^st century where individuals have the ability to publish their own news on social media or through blogs.  While this digital technology could be mystifying to journalists and professional communicators alike, “survival requires understanding all these new technologies so journalists and news organizations can make informed decisions about why and how to utilize them.” (Grabowicz, 2014)  Watch this video, which discusses the expectations journalists face. 

Works Cited:

Carliner, S. (2010). Transformations in Our Work. In Digital literacy for technical communication: 21st century theory and practice. New York: Routledge.

Catanio, T., & Catanio, J. (2008). Training Documentation Teams-A Research Plan. In K. Elleithy (Ed.), Innovations and Advanced Techniques in Systems, Computing Sciences and Software Engineering. New York: Springer.

 Grabowicz, P. (2014, September 28). The Transition to Digital Journalism - Berkeley Advanced                 Media Institute. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/digital-transform/ 

Image:
Figure 1. Journalism. [Jpeg]. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOozT6S9MnjBxxyBKYxxr_sk5PMRyqCJoCb1cNn7KPihS3MYhpWIfTO1HibTjVUS7MYvgBcO7MHVEB1fXVVBQU5dW5ANhUvwcV5QUhdEOki14-l9PVt0OsQ356rFfzdodZdPR50YQKzy7P/s1600/worlde.png

Figure 2. Technology Prediction. [Jpeg]. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs98i1l7GEPspSViSf17YZ889bNNrbggVCY1JZLvLO7PcdxfjvkCn8RDnHdgoC-d922CORnnG_LoXWUk2dRER2qO2uwoF2OxnFsbAOS6vNLdU4Qyn3zHUBX8tkUrY5d4CH1t6a3Mw2eUI/s1600/Technology-Predictions-For-2013%5B1%5D.jpg

Video:
Elizabeth Lee. (2014, September 1). Internet Technology Offer New Tools for Journalists. [Video File] Retrieved January 10, 2016, from http://www.voanews.com/content/internet-technology-offer-new-tools-for-journalists/2434777.html