Do this not that (online newspapers)

DOTHISWhat to do and NOT to do on your

online news site

NOT THAT

DO POSTDAILY

This ain’t print anymore

DON’T POST ISSUES

DO USE GOOGLE

This ain’t 1985

DON’T USE CLIP BOARDS

DO WORK

AHEAD

Show your readers you know what’s going on

DON’T WORK FROM BEHIND

DO GO TO

THEM

You ain’t a Newsie – You ain’t carrying the banner

DON’T DEPEND ON THEM

DO WRITE ABOUT

PEOPLEAlways ask “Who Cares”

DON’T WRITE ABOUT EVENTS

DO WORK WITH

OTHERSThe more the better.

DON’T WORK ALONE

DO LINK IN

STORIES

You don’t know everything.

DON’T BE THE ONLY SOURCE

DO USE ONE NAV

BAR

Don’t annoy your reader. Make it easy. They are online because they

want quick info.

DON’T OVER USE NAV BARS

DO LINK TO PRINT

PUB

They are online for a reason. They don’t like print. It turns their hands

black.

DON’T LINK ON HOME PAGE

DO USE

SOCIAL MEDIASocial media is how they got to your

home page.

DON’T USE IT ON THE HOME PG

DO THINK

WORLD WIDE

It’s WWW for a reason.

DON’T THINK SCHOOL WIDE

DO USE A STYLE SHEET

Ask your yearbook friends about this one.

DON’T OVER USE FONTS

DO WRITE HEADS

FOR SEOGet in the know about SEO.

DON’T WRITE NORMAL HEADS

DO USE A MIX

OF MEDIA

And use secondary coverage like your print publications.

DON’T JUST WRITE OR VIDEO

DO UPDATE INSIDE PAGESOne old page equals an older reader.

He’s gone.

DON’T LET PAGES GO OLD

DO USE

GRAPHIC

This ain’t elementary school.

DON’T USE CLIPART

DO TELL

ABOUT YOU

Nobody but you on campus knows what a Pacemaker, Crown or Star is.

No one cares.

DON’T TELL YOUR AWARDS

DO LOOK AT

OTHER SITES

Ok. There’s nothing new.

DON’T STEAL EXACTIDEAS