From the President

It’s that time of year again: NCRA’s 2014 TechCon is April 11-13 in Atlanta, GA, and we hope you are planning to attend. This “educational event with a twist of tech” will give you an opportunity to become a more skilled professional, while having fun participating in NCRA’s best technology workshops, networking opportunities, and discovering the latest trends and technology.

Also, I encourage you to attend one of the two-day 2014 Certified LiveNote Reporter Certification Events with Mark Kislingbury, which are being held in five major cities across the U.S.  You will learn about the technical aspects of realtime, get hands-on experience with the tools needed to become highly skilled, and have the opportunity to become CLR Certified.

Atkinson-Baker wants to help you be the best. We want you to continue to grow in your profession, and we hope this quarterly e-letter will help you do just that.  Please send us suggestions or feedback about the newsletter, so we can continue to make it a worthwhile tool for you.

Best regards,
Sheila

Missing the Message

By Jennifer Moritz, Dixon Schwabl

Not long ago, the word world spun into a frenzy when someone discovered that several dictionaries had added a second definition for the word “literally.” Now, instead of meaning “actually,” it also means “Just kidding, not really.” For the better part of a week, those who love grammar — and those who just love a good debate — declared that this was the nail in the coffin. We have literally killed the English language.

Or maybe not. Communication is pretty safe despite a few dictionary glitches and evolving usage. But a few times a year, for better or worse, grammar makes the news—and that’s a good thing. Words and images are the heroes of the media world, whether they’re in newspapers, across billboards, or on screens. Those commas, em dashes, and even semi-colons are the silent army that often saves the day, guiding your readers down the path you intended and making sure your words mean what you want them to mean. The truth is, if you don’t notice them, they’re doing their jobs.

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