ISTC News
Help shape TCUK27: A quick survey!
The ISTC (Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators) is exploring the possibility of organising the next edition of the ISTC’s conference TCUK for 2027. TCUK has always been shaped by the people who attend it, and your feedback will help guide what happens next.
Your views are extremely valuable. Whether you have attended TCUK before, are thinking of attending in the future, or you are simply interested in the direction of the profession, please complete this survey to help guide and shape TCUK27.
The survey should take about three minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous.
Your responses will help us understand the level of interest and what would make a future TCUK event exciting and valuable for the technical communication community.
Thank you for helping us shape the future of TCUK27.
Advertise in InfoPlus
Get your company or products noticed in the TechComms community! We are offering new opportunities for advertising in our monthly InfoPlus newsletter.
These adverts are banners to be positioned as you choose. Placement examples are included in this PDF, which also contains all the necessary steps and costs involved to place an advert in future editions of InfoPlus.
If you would like to advertise with us please contact Chantel Sankey – istc@istc.org.uk.
Website Volunteer Team update
In March, the website team worked on content quality and strategy and updates to the ISTC website. The first project this month was the Style Guide, which the team created for both ISTC and TCUK communications, including web pages, marketing collateral, newsletters and social media.
As well as editorial guidance, it covers industry best practices for writing and presenting content for specific platforms and channels.
After the style guide, the team made progress with the ISTC website audit. This month, they conducted an affinity mapping exercise. Using Miro, the team grouped and categorised their detailed content analysis into a holistic view of the website. Next month the team will use the outcomes to guide changes to the website’s information architecture.
During these projects, members of the team also worked on other valuable tasks too. Notably, the Resources section of the website and WordPress file management, and a TCUK survey. The survey will help the ISTC discover what technical communication professionals would like to see at the next conference.
Resources Page
Our Resources Page is getting a bit long-in-the-tooth and it will be the next members’ only page that will be put through the ‘car wash’ and given a spring clean.
We have previously posted (in the Slack channel) a request for any apps that you use that aren’t already on the page. We will be sending out another reminder when the project starts.
We also would like your input / review on what’s already on there and which ones, if any, that we should remove.
The updates to the page will start in mid-April and go through to end of May.
Want to lend a hand?
If you’d like to help the ISTC improve its website and collaborate with other ISTC members in the process, send an email to istc@istc.org.uk. We’re a friendly team and there’s no pressure to volunteer a particular number of hours – you can help out as and when your availability allows.
IJTC Update
March newsletter
The March issue was sent out on the 20th March and it contained 8 articles from CJ Walker, plus a few guest articles that have appeared on the Firehead blog.
I (finally) finished off my article on a useful NotebookLM plugin to bring it up to 9 articles in total.
Future Topics
I’ll be doing another NotebookLM article on the multitude of other plugins that I’ve found. Most are browser-based, but some are full Windows-based desktop apps.
After my phone broke, I found that my go-to notebook app, Samsung Notes is, oddly enough, only available on Samsung phones. I’ve therefore moved my note-taking to Microsoft’s OneNote. It certainly makes researching easier and I don’t know why I hadn’t moved it across sooner.
We want your articles!
Here are the rules:
- It doesn’t have to be of an epic length. We’re not expecting you to craft x-thousand words to fill a page.
- There’s nothing stopping you from sending in multiple small articles for a series, along the lines of our series from Jean Rollinson and CJ Walker.
- It has to be relevant to the technical communicators who are part of ISTC – as well as our Australian and New Zealand colleagues.
- It must not be generated using AI. You can, however, write about AI tools used within the tech comms field.
Take a look at the other articles already on the website and see if your subject would fit in. Send it to editor@ijtc.net.
ISTC Slack
The details of where to find our Slack channel can be found on the Members’ Portal page when you log onto the ISTC Website.
Note: Slack are withdrawing support for Windows 10 users of their app.
Before joining please remember:
This is a professional space, and all areas, including any private messages, may be reviewed by the ISTC and are subject to the ISTC’s Code of Professional Practice.
We look forward to seeing you in there.
Area groups
If you wish to start your own Area Group, contact istc@istc.org.uk.
Thames Valley Area Group
The Thames Valley local group meeting is at the Bird-in-Hand pub in Knowle Hill, RG10 9UP on the first Tuesday of each month from 7.30pm. All are welcome.
They rarely have a set subject but the conversation always has a strong tech comms flavour. Maybe something from recent news, something that has happened at work, or some new technology to discuss.
London Area group
The next London Area Group meetup is Wednesday 15th April. We are finally back to doing face-to-face meetings and we will be meeting at the usual place on the South Bank.
A Request for Back Issues
We’ve added the list of missing issues to the Communicator Archive page.
If you’ve got any of the missing issues in .PDF format, then please get in touch.
ISTC Meets
This is our monthly series of online live presentations and discussions from industry experts across the Technical Communication spectrum.
For full details of all of our previous speakers, and for all future ISTC Meets, please visit our website.
Our April ISTC Meets is on 24th April at 16.00 and Jill Shaheen will be discussing Docs-As-Code.
The title of her talk is: “Transitioning to (and surviving) docs-as-code Git workflows”
Jill Shaheen is a documentation leader who has been building content systems and figuring out where infrastructure breaks for nearly 20 years. She works in docs-as-code environments daily, automates workflows with AI tools and agents, and recently published a Git learning series.
Zoom link for April ISTC Meets
Contact the ISTC directly, istc@istc.org.uk, to be added to the ISTC Meets mailing list.
Talking heads wanted!
Do you want to give a 30 minute talk on any aspects of tech comms (via Zoom)? Get in touch with ISTC Meets.
Social Media
We recently pared back our social media areas to make them easier to manage and post to. Our FB pages for ISTC and TCUK will remain for the time being whilst they are archived, then they will be removed permanently.
Community Forums
The forums are available to all members once logged into the ISTC website.
AI News & Apps
Online Dictionaries are Suing OpenAI
Britannica and Merriam-Webster have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the AI giant has built its $730 billion company on the back of their researched content.
US MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AI MUSIC FRAUD
Man charged after flooding platforms with thousands of AI songs and boosting them with bots.
OpenAI aiming to double workforce by end of 2026
Artificial intelligence start-up OpenAI plans to nearly double its workforce to 8,000 from 4,500 by the end of 2026, the Financial Times reported, citing two people with knowledge of the matter.
OPENAI shuts down Sora
OpenAI has shut down its artificial intelligence (AI) video-generation app Sora less than two years after its unveiling made headlines for creating realistic clips based on simple prompts.
At the same time OpenAI will also wind down its $1bn content partnership with entertainment giant Disney, the BBC understands.
GPT-5.4 Mini and Nano Arrived
OpenAI released two smaller, faster versions of GPT-5.4 optimized for coding and subagent workloads. Mini runs 2× faster than GPT-5 mini and approaches flagship performance.
New Tools
A round-up of some new AI tools that might be of use to all tech comms people.
Note: Just because I’ve included a particular AI app in the selection below, it doesn’t mean that ISTC are promoting these AI apps.
I do recommend, however, subscribing to the There’s An AI For That‘s newsletter if you want to keep yourself up to date on all things AI.
SlidesPilot
SlidesPilot is an AI tool that generates professionally-designed presentation slides. It eliminates the need for tedious brainstorming, hours spent formatting slides, and endless searching for information.
AI Humanizer by Ryter
AI Humanizer by Ryter is an advanced natural language processing tool designed to make artificial intelligence (AI) generated content more human-like and undetectable by AI detectors.
Mintlify
Mintlify is an intelligent knowledge platform aimed at helping teams create and maintain superior documentation that caters to both humans and AI. It is designed for fast-moving teams and scales seamlessly for large enterprises.
Free AI courses (care of Gov.uk) at AI Skills HUB
Technical Writer HQ Infographic
Our thanks go to Technical Writer HQ for the above infographic. We will be including one in every issue of InfoPlus for the remainder of this year.
Upcoming Events
There are multiple in-person and/or online-only conferences coming up this year. If you think we’ve missed any out, please get in touch via newsletter.editor@istc.org.uk, or send me a message via the ISTC Slack channel.
Title: ConVEx 2026
Date: April 13th – 15th 2026
Online/In-Person: Pittsburgh, USA
Website: https://convex.infomanagementcenter.com/event/convex-2026/
The premier event for technical documentation and information development professionals.
Produced by the Center for Information Development Management (CIDM), ConVEx brings together content strategists, documentation managers, and industry leaders for three days of in-depth sessions, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities.
Title: Information Energy
Date: April 22nd – 24th 2026
Online/In-Person: Online
Website: https://www.informationenergy.org/
This three-day event from Wednesday to Friday will bring together people, who want to explore the novelties of technical communication. Join 300 other attendees who care about current and future trends. Check out the exciting topics, which range from AI and other new technologies in TC to content strategy, professional development, and the business value of TC. The entire event will be hosted online via Zoom, providing easy access for attendees around the world.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow within the TechComm community.
Programme: https://www.informationenergy.org/program
Title: Write the Docs, Portland
Date: May 3rd – 5th, 2026
Online/In-Person: Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark Ave Portland, OR 97214 or attend virtually.
Website: https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/portland/2026
Write the Docs is a global community of people who care about documentation: Programmers, Tech Writers, Customer Support, Designers, Project Managers, Developer Advocates, and anyone else who wants people to have a great experience with software.
Created in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, WTD has hosted conferences around the world in Prague, Sydney, Amsterdam, London, and Melbourne.
Title: tcworld China
Date: May 21st – 22nd 2026
Online/In-Person: Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Changfeng Park, Shanghai, China
Website: https://www.tcworld-china.cn/en/
Join tcworld China 2026, Asia’s leading international conference for professionals in technical communication, content, language, and product experience.
Here, global experts and innovators come together to exchange ideas, explore new technologies, and shape the future of intelligent communication.
Discover how AI, UX, localization, and global information strategies are redefining the way we create and manage knowledge. Learn about the latest practices in content operations, information architecture, and data asset management, and see how organizations are turning information into impact.
The programme is now available: https://www.tcworld-china.cn/en/program-2026/
Title: IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC)
Date: May 24th – 28th 2026
Online/In-Person: Glasgow, Scotland
Website: https://icc2026.ieee-icc.org/
This flagship conference of the IEEE Communications Society will present a comprehensive and high-quality technical program, featuring 12 symposia, cutting-edge tutorials, and diverse workshops spanning the full spectrum of communications research and innovation.
Title: Evolution of TC
Date: June 2nd – 3rd 2026
Online/In-Person: Sofia, Bulgaria
Website: https://evolution-of-tc.com/
Join industry leaders, innovators, and professionals in technical communication for two days of knowledge sharing, networking, and inspiration in Sofia.
The full programme is now available on their website.
Title: Adobe DITAWorld
Date: June – exact dates not released as of yet
Online/In-Person: Online
Website: https://2026-adobe-dita-world.meetus.adobeevents.com/
The 11th edition of the world’s biggest DITA Online Conference for Marketing and Technical Communication Professionals. Streaming worldwide in June 2026. As soon as the exact dates are published, this entry will be updated.
Title: Write the Docs, Berlin
Date: September 6th – 8th, 2026
Online/In-Person: Both – Paul-Lincke-Ufer 21, 10999 Berlin
Website: https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/berlin/2026/
Tickets will go on sale in April 2026 and the conference is still in the ‘Call for Proposals’ stage.
Title: Lavacon 2026
Date: October 25th-28th
Online/In-Person: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Website: https://www.lavacon.org/
LavaCon is a gathering place for Content Strategists, Documentation Managers, and other content professionals willing to share their best practices and lesson learned—what worked, and what didn’t.
Our Mission: To help organizations reduce costs, increase revenue, and improve the Customer Experience through better content.
Accredited courses have been reviewed by a professional panel of experienced ISTC members. A course listed as “ISTC Accredited” means that the panel believes the course meets its stated objectives and is suitable for its intended audience.
Course providers have to apply for renewal of accreditation every 2 years, which helps to ensure the courses reflect current best practice.
Training courses
Armada
The Technical Authoring Training Programme run by Armada is run over 5 days.
You can attend in-person at our dedicated training facilities at Bristol, Bromsgrove, Manchester or Reading, or participate live online.
The next course dates are:
- Online – 1st-5th June 2026
- Birmingham/Bromsgrove: Classroom-based – 1st-5th June 2026
- Bristol: Classroom-based – 14th-18th September 2026
- Reading: Classroom-based – 23rd–27th November 2026
For further details, see www.armada.co.uk/course/tatp.
Cherryleaf
The Cherryleaf courses are available online and can be booked for single tech comms people or as a group.
Using Generative AI in Technical Writing: https://cherryleaf.teachable.com/p/using-generative-ai
Technical Writer – Induction Course: https://cherryleaf.teachable.com/p/technical-writer-induction-course
TCTrainNet – tekom Certificate training in Technical Communication
There are two accredited courses available from TCTrainNet:
- TCTrainNet Professional
- Aimed at beginners and career changers. Intakes 20th April and 22nd June 2026.
- Aimed at beginners and career changers. Intakes 20th April and 22nd June 2026.
- TCTrainNet Expert
- Aimed at experienced technical writers. Intakes 20th April and 12th October 2026
Firehead
Firehead offer a number of accredited courses. They are supplied in a format of videos, PDFs, eBooks and assessments.
- DITA Concepts
- Make Search Better: An Introduction to Keywording
- Structuring Prompts for Technical Communicators and Content Developers
- Presenting in English with Equal Impact
- Content Strategy Overview
IMPORTANT
Attending an ISTC Accredited course does not automatically make you an ISTC Member. Becoming an ISTC member is separate from attending an accredited course and requires applying separately. If the training course has wet your whistle, then come and join us.
About InfoPlus
InfoPlus is your go-to source for staying informed about our profession, featuring news not only from the ISTC but also from across the technical communication community.
This complimentary newsletter is emailed to approximately 1500 individuals.
Subscribe to InfoPlus by clicking here, you can unsubscribe at any time from within the email sent out each month.
For advertising enquiries, contact istc@istc.org.uk.
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If you have noteworthy information to share with your peers, please send it my way at newsletter.editor@istc.org.uk. We want to ensure that your news reaches as many people as possible.
About our publishers
InfoPlus, the Monthly Newsletter from the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC), is a valuable resource for the largest UK body representing scientific and technical communicators.
Whether you are involved in technical writing, technical illustration, or other forms of communicating technical information, ISTC is the professional association dedicated to supporting your career.
Published and distributed on the first working day of each month, InfoPlus occasionally experiences slight delays until the first week of the month. Keep this in mind when submitting time-sensitive information.
Explore the benefits of ISTC membership and find out how to join.
Back Page
After my run-in with the Apostrophe Protection Society two months ago, I thought I’d try and level my street cred up and submit my own.
I was waiting around at Preston station after a lovely photowalk around Blackpool Zoo and I spotted this little typo … tsk, tsk!
Yes, I am that sad. But to be honest, I was killing time waiting for the train back home to Stockport.
I was talking to my manager about my (re)discovery of OneNote and how useful it has been as I transferred my old scribblings from Samsung Notes. Then I made the mistake of stating it was better than Notepad++ … this was his reply.
I’ve seen people write novels using Notion; I’ve seen people write their CVs using LaTeX; I’ve seen stars die and wink out of existence in the time it takes for Atlassian to deliver a feature request. I’ve sat through early access demos for Miro and Lucid and been told how they’ll change the game for centuries to come. All of these have been mere teardrops in the rain compared to my blessed Notepad++.
It rings a bell, like it was a quote from a film … 🙂
Can you do any better?
If so, you can send them to newsletter.editor@istc.org.uk, or send me a message via the ISTC Slack channel, by 21st April 2026.