STC -- Interview with Linda Oestreich, President of the Society for Technical Communication

Interview with STC President Linda Oestreich: Directions the STC Is Heading

February 5th, 2008 | Posted in Tech Writer Voices 17 Comments »

Linda Oestreich Download MP3 (right-click and select Save Target As)
Duration: 35 min.

In this podcast, STC President Linda Oestreich talks about the direction that the Society for Technical Communication is heading. She explains the strategic objectives of the STC and the ways the Board is trying to meet those objectives in a financially conscious way. She provides updates on other initiatives they’ve pursued, such as certification programs, increased recognition, and membership trends. Linda also talks about the awesome responsibility it is to be president of an organization of nearly 15,000 members worldwide.

Topics in this podcast include the following:

The most pressing issue the Board of Directors has attempted to tackle this past year
The reason the STC has to be financially conscious
What STC members find truly valuable about the STC
Updates about the ongoing interactions with the Bureau of Labor about changing the title and definition of “technical writer”
Reasons for upward membership trends and company-value discounts
Movements toward certification programs
Attempts to provide recognition for members between senior member and associate fellow
Problems interpreting what people mean by networking and publications
The upcoming roadmap for the STC
How much time the STC president spends in her position
Advice she would give to the incoming president
Why people should attend the upcoming STC Summit

Additional Resources

STC
Linda Oestreich’s bio
To access News and Notes, Tieline, Intercom, or Tech Comm Journal, go to stc.org, log in, and view the options on the Publications menu.
Upcoming STC Summit in Philadelphia
Contact Linda at linda.oestreich@hp.com
The blogroll and podroll links I mentioned.

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To contact me, send me an email at tomjohnson1492@gmail.com.

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Tags: Linda Oestreich, networking, publications, STC, STC Summit

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IABC :: International Association of Business Communicators, Belgian Chapter says:

February 6, 2008 at 10:50 pm

Society for Technical Communication: What’s New on STC.ORG? Kevin A. Siegel to Present Captivate Live Web Seminar on Wednesday, February 13President Linda Oestreich Speaks on Future of STCAtlanta Chapter to Host Currents Conference March 14 – 15

society for technical communication :: home says:

February 6, 2008 at 3:30 pm

President Oestreich Speaks on Future of STCAtlanta Chapter to Host Currents Conference March 14 – 15

avi says:

February 6, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Most of the podcast’s topics are STC-related, and not STC-supposed-customers -related. Why would any non-STC-member technical writer bother to listen to it?…

Tom says:

February 6, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Good point. Perhaps by listening, you’ll find out if the STC can provide any benefits or value to you that you were otherwise missing out on (for example, publications, networking, salary surveys, conferences, certification, recognition, leadership).

On another note, what topic would you like to learn about in a podcast?

Interview with STC President Linda Oestreich: Directions the STC Is Heading says:

February 6, 2008 at 5:47 pm

[...] post by tom@idratherbewriting.com (Tom Johnson) A.at_adv_here_7881, A.at_pow_by_7881 {font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; [...]

Ryan Schmid says:

February 7, 2008 at 8:43 am

I think you are doing a great job with your blog and podcasts. I have added it to my RSS reader.

Don’t be afraid to be more enthusiastic and less measured in your speech.

STC Indiana says:

February 10, 2008 at 10:19 am

[...] President Linda Oestreich Speaks on Future of STC [...]

STC San Diego Chapter says:

February 17, 2008 at 6:01 pm

[...] http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/05/interview-with-stc-president-linda-oestreich-the-directi… [...]

How to be an Agile Technical Writer with a cool acronym like XTW « just write click says:

February 19, 2008 at 3:05 pm

[...] has changed so greatly over the years. I listened to Linda Oestriech’s podcast about the Direction the STC is Heading at Tech Writer Voices and one great quote from her was, “We’re not the technical writer from the 70s.” [...]

Society for Technical Communication, Houston Chapter says:

March 2, 2008 at 1:22 pm

[...] Interview with Linda O., STC President [...]

Matt says:

April 18, 2008 at 1:44 pm

Is there a transcript? I’d really like to hear this but 35 minutes is a long time to invest. I could skim a written version in 5 minutes.

April 18, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Sorry, there’s no transcript. However, do you drive a car anywhere, or ever go to the gym? Put it on your MP3 player and listen to it that way. I’m sure you’ll find it much more enjoyable, rather than when you’re stationery at the computer.

News from the Society for Technical Communication (STC) says:

May 13, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Feedback on the Podcast From a German Listener | I'd Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson says:

May 20, 2008 at 3:01 pm

[...] Linda Oestreich podcast [...]

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June 1, 2008 at 1:20 pm

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geld lenen bkr says:

July 23, 2008 at 5:36 pm

@Tom: I do agree with your suggestion about [...do you drive a car anywhere, or ever go to the gym? Put it on your MP3 player and listen to it that way.]
@Matt: after listening to this mp3 while driving your car, I’m conviced that you’ll find time to listen again when you’re stationery at the computer. Because than you can listen much concentrated. It is wroth the effort!