Navigating the digital diaspora; A guide for surviving the ''new media'' odyssey

Today's language professionals face a daunting task: to communicate their clients' messages, tailored to specific local needs in a Global Marketplace (localization) and delivered in the media of choice of the target audience (paper, CD, Website). Not only must we master the do's and don'ts of business communications (legal, industrial, corporate, institutional), we must also navigate the unpredictable and ever-changing sea of computer technologies and standards, or lack thereof. This paper attempts to shine some light down the path to success in today's 'new media' environment from computer aided translation to Web media development, through the alphabet soup of application and file formats. I hope to present a useful guide for communications and language professionals to help them surf the next big wave.