Where technical and marketing communication meet.
Founded in 2001 by Catherine Ducharme, the High-Tech Communicators’ Exchange provides an accessible and informal forum to connect communicators in the high-tech sector. While membership is primarily made up of marketing communicators, the HTCE also attracts technical writers, public relations specialists, and graphic designers. Approximately half of HTCE members work as contractors or consultants, while the other half work in-house with companies or agencies.
Over the course of seven years, the HTCE has grown to include 460 members. The group meets every four to six weeks to engage in round-table discussions, listen to guest speakers, or hear about case studies on a particular topic. These meetings are mostly focused on marketing and social media trends.
However, Ducharme is quick to point out that within the high-tech sector, the line between technical and marketing communication is a blurry one. Both types of communicators tend to work in isolation, and can benefit from opportunities to share their experiences. The HTCE aims to combine the strengths of marketing and technical communicators and facilitate learning between the groups.
In keeping with the aim to have an informal group, there is no membership fee to join. A nominal fee is charged for events, to cover the cost of food and refreshments. The website features a job bank, with approximately 25 percent of the job postings for technical writers. Add your email address to the mailing list to receive information about upcoming events or new job postings.
The High-Tech Communicators’ Exchange: http://www.htce.org/
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