A survey of current best practices for technical communication practitioners dealing with legacy content

Abstract

Purpose: To examine practitioner experiences and literature pertaining to legacy content, and to establish a set of general guidelines for the benefit of inexperienced technical communicators. Method: Search for articles, blog posts, and other web-based resources regarding legacy content; analyze search results for general principles advocated by expert practitioners. Results: Management of legacy content is a vital aspect of good content strategy. Left unmanaged, legacy content can detract from user experience, bring the organization into disrepute, or even lead to litigation. Content needs regular assessment in the form of a content audit in order to determine whether it still holds the same value and fulfills its purpose within the organization.When content has been assessed as no longer fulfilling its original purpose, it should be subjected to one of three disposal methods: refresh, reuse, or retire.