"spoken words fly away - written words remain"

…or, if you prefer it in Latin, “verba volant, scripta manent”

To illustrate this article, on, preferentially, using the “written word” to put the message across (in Contemporary Health Tourism), I used the front cover of the book titled “THE WRITTEN WORD”, by Vandana Singh, a paperback edition of which one can buy for $32.69, through Amazon (? https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/0195668065? ).

?

When it comes to Contemporary Health Tourism (a.k.a. – and symbolized by – ht8), my objective is to put the “message” out which:

• informs
• educates
• explains

Furthermore, I address the Builder Class (a.k.a. the Growth Makers and Developers) – a “no-nonsense” stakeholder group which wants to focus on the “information, knowledge and understanding” – and which has no time or interest in being distracted by “entertainment” (and other “embellishments”).

For entertainment, they will go to the cinema, theatre – or better still, a rock concert.

With all this in mind, my dilemma was the choice of medium to use to deliver what these VIPs wanted (in the way of “information, knowledge and understanding”).

It is clear that they shun such distracting artefacts as "acting, stage management and entertainment" – which aim to create “impressions” as opposed to “impact”.

Stated a little differently, they want a clear and informative message – one which is not “clouded” by smoke and mirrors such as “show” – and other inessential artifices.

I say this because it is obvious that some “presenters” of webinars and podcasts, took acting lessons – or were coached – with the aim of appearing as “spontaneous” and “authentic” – but come across with mannerisms (including smiles) which are obviously “contrived”.

And of course, use the coffee cup / mug as a supporting prop.

BTW, in the past, I had done some webinars and podcasts – in addition to putting out the written word.

Anyway, I opted (exclusively) for the “written word” (as opposed to webinars and podcasts – with their inevitable "distracting" elements ["acting, stage management and entertainment"]).

In arriving at my decision, I considered:

• the target audience – and the type of delivery mode which resonates with them – and is in accord with their expectations
• the topic (serious)
• overall objective (inform, explain and educate)

As I explain, and support with facts and arguments, by using only the written word, the audience concentrates their attention on the “message” – the “take away”.

By using the written word, I could focus on delivering “information, knowledge and understanding” in a clear and concise way (without the distracting “visual and sound” effects).

the “powerful” advantages of the written word

…comprehension, accessibility, flexibility and reference

• accessibility - written content can be accessed (offline and online) at any time and revisited as needed (listeners might miss parts of a podcast or webinar, while written materials allow for easy reference)
• pace control - readers can control their reading pace - skimming over familiar sections or going back to reread confusing parts (podcasts and webinars have a set pace dictated by the speaker)
• comprehension - some people learn and retain information better by reading (the written word allows for deeper reflection and analysis of the content)
• searchability - written content can be easily searched for specific information (finding a particular point in a podcast or webinar is a lot more difficult)
• archiving - written content can be easily archived and stored for future reference (podcasts and webinars require downloading or finding specific episodes later)
• taking notes - readers can take notes and highlight important points, which can aid in comprehension and retention
• reduced distractions - written content minimizes distractions compared to audio formats (readers can avoid multitasking and focus solely on the information being presented
• tailored learning - readers can adjust their focus based on their interests (e.g., they can skip ahead to specific sections or linger on areas that require more attention)
• scalability - written content can be easily distributed and shared with a large audience without additional costs (podcasts and webinars might require recording platforms or hosting fees)
• easy revision and updates - written content can be easily revised and updated to reflect new information or changes (this is particularly beneficial for technical or rapidly evolving fields – such as that of Health Tourism)
• spoken words fly away - written words remain (or, if you prefer it in Latin, “verba volant, scripta manent”)