Write the Docs Podcast episode 5: Where do we belong?
In this episode of the Write the Docs podcast, we explore where technical writers belong in an organization. Is tech comm best placed within engineering, marketing, product management, or another group? We also talk about strategies for doc navigation, in particular, the merits of inline links and/or sidebar navigation, using a post from Every Page Is Page One as a starting point. Are hierarchical sidebar menus still useful, or are they a relic of the past? Finally, we provide details about the upcoming Write the Docs conference in Portland, and Chris mentions his new book on responsive design.
For more details, see the post on WTD Podcast. To subscribe to the podcast, see the many many subscription options.
Links mentioned during the podcast:
- Where do technical writers fit in an organisation, by Sarah Maddox
- Why Technical Content and Marketing Belong Together, by Doug Moran
- Write the Docs Conference in Portland
- Chris Ward’s book on Responsive Web Design
- Write the Docs app on Fire TV
Sponsored content
About Tom Johnson

I'm a technical writer / API doc specialist based in the Seattle area. In this blog, I write about topics related to technical writing and communication — such as software documentation, API documentation, visual communication, information architecture, writing techniques, plain language, tech comm careers, and more. Check out simplifying complexity and API documentation for some deep dives into these topics. If you're a technical writer and want to keep on top of the latest trends in the field, be sure to subscribe to email updates. You can also learn more about me or contact me.