Technical communication research should bridge the gap between academia and industry to address practical problems and discover new research areas. However, differing publication needs have led to a significant disconnect between academics and practitioners. An empirical analysis of 1,048 articles published over 20 years revealed minimal evolution in core content forums and distinct differences in topics and audiences. This indicates a fragmented discipline. The study suggests adopting structured abstracts and implications statements to unify research and recommends that researchers target alternative audiences and practitioners increase their research involvement.