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Technical Writing in the Digital Age: Difference between revisions
Technical Writing in the Digital Age (view source)
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Technical communicators have to abide by ethical standards. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} | Technical communicators have to abide by ethical standards. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} | ||
==== | ====The Employer==== | ||
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer. | Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer. | ||
Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}} | Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}} | ||
==== | ====The Public==== | ||
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} | Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} | ||
==== | ====The Environment==== | ||
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.{{sfn|Environmental Protection Agency|2023}} | Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.{{sfn|Environmental Protection Agency|2023}} | ||
==== | ====Disinformation==== | ||
One primary ethical concern in all forms of writing, especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often called "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|loc=section 3.7}} Modern communication technologies allow the spread of information to occur quickly. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. | One primary ethical concern in all forms of writing, especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often called "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|loc=section 3.7}} Modern communication technologies allow the spread of information to occur quickly. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. | ||