The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC) is the UK's largest professional association for those involved in technical communication and information design.Profile of ISTC published by TCeuropeABOUT ISTC . Copyright © 2000 Quality Independent Authors.The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators . Site © copyright AST 2007. It encourages professional education and standards, provides guidance about the value of using professional communicators, and provides research resources and networking opportunities for its members and affiliates.
History The ISTC as it is today was created in 1972 from an amalgamation of three associations: the Presentation of Technical Information Group (founded in 1948Involvement of Reginald Kapp in the PTI Group and the ISTC), the Technical Publications Association and the Institute of Technical Publicity & Publications.Hockley, H R: "Communicator", May 1972, page 1. ITPP, 1972. The institute was incorporated as a limited company on 19 July 1972.limited company, 01061923
Presidents of the ISTC https://istc.org.uk/about-the-istc/history-of-the-istc/ 2021-2025: Linda Robins 2017-2020: Carol Leahy 2014-2017: Alison Peck 2010-2014: Paul Ballard 2007–2010: Simon Butler 2002-2007: Gavin Ireland 2000-2002: Iain Wright 1998-2000: Anke Harris 1996-1998: Gerry Gentle 1995-1996: Dave Griffiths 1993-1995: Peter Greenfield 1991-1993: Ray Green 1988-1991: Dennis Reeder 1985-1988: Ray Burgess 1982-1985: Ted (E N) White 1980-1982: J D McIntosh 1978-1980: Allen Finch 1976-1978: Graham (R G) Martyr 1972-1976: Major Horace Hockley
Governance The ISTC is managed by its council, with day-to-day running handled by a professional administration company. Members have the opportunity to contribute their ideas, skills and time to specific Steering Groups and can stand for Council.
The ISTC is a member of the Professional Associations Research Network (PARN).https://www.parnglobal.com/Public/Default.aspx This organisation provides a network for professional bodies and offers services and events on subjects such as governance, Continuing Professional Development, ethics and standards, and member relations. The ISTC was one of the sponsors of a project in 2006 to explore the issues affecting professional associations as they grow.Williams, C; Woodhead, S: "The Growing Pains of Smaller Professional Associations: Key Issues and Interesting Practice". PARN, June 2007).
The ISTC has a Code of Professional Practice, with which it expects its members to comply. This was developed in accordance with research carried out by PARN and its author was cited in PARN's third book on ethics.Friedman, A: "Ethical Competence and Professional Associations", pages 109-111. PARN, 2007 ().
Membership Technical communication encompasses a wide range of activities, all with the common thread of communicating complex or important information in the most effective way for the reader. Technical communicators create information that affects people in virtually every industry and area of society. Examples of roles that may be involved in technical communication are:
Technical writing Technical illustration Indexing Editing Instructional design Information architecture Single source publishing Environmental, safety and health communication Management
The ISTC offers several grades of individual membership. There are two corporate grades, Member (MISTC) and Fellow (FISTC), and two non-corporate grades, Associate and Student. Corporate grades are entitled to vote at the ISTC's AGM. Members cite a sense of community as an important factor in their continued membership.Newell, M: "Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators", page 4. France Connexion, STC France Chapter, 2008
Organisations can join the ISTC as Business Affiliates.
Publications The ISTC publishes periodicals and books:Centre for Distance Learning listing for Professional Communication and Information Design a quarterly journal, Communicator (ISSN 0953-3699) a monthly newsletter, InfoPlus+ a handbook comprising essays from a range of practitioners, Professional Communication and Information Design () an overview of the role of XML in the profession, XML in Technical Communication.()
Events The ISTC organises an annual conference, Technical Communication UK, which is held in September.
Awards The ISTC makes annual awards: UK Technical Communication Awards (formerly the ISTC Documentation Awards) for deliverables in five classes Horace Hockley Award for contribution to the profession Mike Austin Award for contribution to the ISTC
International The ISTC participates in the international technical communication profession through its membership of two umbrella organisations: INTECOMWatson, M: "Communicator", Winter 2004, pages 14-15. ISTC, 2004. TCeuropeRisku, H: "Communicator", Winter 2005, page 32-33. ISTC, 2005.
The ISTC was one of the founder members of both organisations, INTECOM in 1970Hockley, H R: "Communicator", July 1974, page 2. ISTC, 1974. and TCeurope in 2002.Fisk, A: "Communicator", Spring/Summer 2002, page 28. ISTC, 2002.
References
External links Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators Technical Communication UK