The year 2006 was as exciting a period in communications as I can remember.

I review the year that ... nearly ... was in the latest episode of my Talking Communications with Farrell Kramer podcast. Technology drove a lot of the excitement. For example, we talked earlier in the year about topics such as search engine optimized and social media press releases, corporate blogging, new media outlets and RSS distribution. But there were also celebrity and corporate scandals, the advertising vs. PR balance of power, the changing role of journalists, and other similar issues.

Press releases. Blog posts. E-mail pitches. Podcast and conference call scripts. Speeches. PowerPoint presentations.

Writing is at the center of all the above -- and represents a critical skill for communicators, particularly now that the Internet era is solidly upon us. My podcast, Talking Communications with Farrell Kramer, examines the craft of writing in Episode 9 -- The Write Stuff, which has just been posted.

Mark Baker, a bestselling author and Senior Vice President at Robinson Lerer & Montgomery, talks on the podcast about how to write effectively for communications. He also assures us that good writing is hard work for even the most practiced professionals.

It's a worthwhile listen for anyone involved in communications.