Writing for the web

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Writing for websites is different than writing for print publications because people read websites differently.

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Writing for the WebWriting for the Web

Jim StreiselHiLite adviser, Carmel (IN) High School

Jim StreiselHiLite adviser, Carmel (IN) High School

Who’s this guy?Who’s this guy?

Who’s this guy?Who’s this guy?

Adviser Adviser

Who’s this guy?Who’s this guy?

Adviser Adviser

Who’s this guy?Who’s this guy?

Adviser Author

Adviser Author

Who’s this guy?Who’s this guy?

Adviser Author

Adviser Author

I like stuff.I like stuff.

I like stuff.I like stuff.

Family Family

I like stuff.I like stuff.

Family Family

I like stuff.I like stuff.

Family Running

Family Running

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

I like stuff.I like stuff.

Family Running Chicken enchiladas

Family Running Chicken enchiladas

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

I like stuff.I like stuff.

Family Running Chicken enchiladas “Star Wars”

Family Running Chicken enchiladas “Star Wars”

I like stuff.I like stuff.

Family Running Chicken enchiladas “Star Wars” “Angry” rock

Family Running Chicken enchiladas “Star Wars” “Angry” rock

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

And I like media.And I like media.

And I like media.And I like media.

Newspapers Newspapers

And I like media.And I like media.

Newspapers Magazines

Newspapers Magazines

And I like media.And I like media.

Newspapers Magazines Radio

Newspapers Magazines Radio

And I like media.And I like media.

Newspapers Magazines Radio TV

Newspapers Magazines Radio TV

And I like the Web.And I like the Web.

And I like the Web.And I like the Web.

Fast Fast

And I like the Web.And I like the Web.

Fast Convenient

Fast Convenient

And I like the Web.And I like the Web.

Fast Convenient Ever-changing/developing

Fast Convenient Ever-changing/developing

But with more stuff,where is there more time?

But with more stuff,where is there more time?

Where does journalism–and journalistic writing–fit?

Where does journalism–and journalistic writing–fit?

Book #1Book #1

The Fall of the Pyramid The Fall of the Pyramid

Book #2Book #2

The Resurgence of the Pyramid The Resurgence of the Pyramid

The Web & high school journalism

The Web & high school journalism

The Web & high school journalism

The Web & high school journalism

Breaking news Breaking news

The Web & high school journalism

The Web & high school journalism

Breaking news Updates (sports?)

Breaking news Updates (sports?)

The Web & high school journalism

The Web & high school journalism

Breaking news Updates (sports?) Developing stories

Breaking news Updates (sports?) Developing stories

The Web & high school journalism

The Web & high school journalism

Breaking news Updates Developing stories The “stuff” in between news cycles

Breaking news Updates Developing stories The “stuff” in between news cycles

Your readers want the news.Your readers want the news.

They want it fast.They want it fast.

They want it conveniently.They want it conveniently.

They want something new each time they visit.

They want something new each time they visit.

It starts with the inverted pyramid.

It starts with the inverted pyramid.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

Who? Who?

It startswith the journalistic questions.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

Who? What?

Who? What?

It startswith the journalistic questions.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

Who? What? When?

Who? What? When?

It startswith the journalistic questions.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

Who? What? When? Where?

Who? What? When? Where?

It startswith the journalistic questions.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

Who? What? When? Where? Why?

Who? What? When? Where? Why?

It startswith the journalistic questions.

It startswith the journalistic questions.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

It startswith a solidly written headline.

It startswith a solidly written headline.

It startswith a solidly written headline.

It startswith a solidly written headline.

Subject—verb—object Subject—verb—object

It startswith a solidly written headline.

It startswith a solidly written headline.

Administrators enact new dress code policy Administrators enact new dress code policy

It startswith a solidly written headline.

It startswith a solidly written headline.

Students revolt against new dress code policy

Students revolt against new dress code policy

It startswith a solidly written headline.

It startswith a solidly written headline.

SWAT team called in to squash dress code rebellion

SWAT team called in to squash dress code rebellion

It startswith a solidly written lead.

It startswith a solidly written lead.

Especially the who, what, when and where. Especially the who, what, when and where.

It startswith a solidly written lead.

It startswith a solidly written lead.

Next school year, students at XXXXX High School will no longer be allowed to wear midriff-revealing clothing or hats, after the school board voted tonight in favor of the new, stricter dress code policy.

Next school year, students at XXXXX High School will no longer be allowed to wear midriff-revealing clothing or hats, after the school board voted tonight in favor of the new, stricter dress code policy.

It continues with information that expands on the lead.

It continues with information that expands on the lead.

The board voted 5-2 in favor of the measure, which Principal John Ross originally proposed two months ago in response to, he said, “continual problems with distracting clothing that disrupted the learning environment.”

“I strongly suggest you pass this measure,” Ross said to the board before the vote. “We need to have a more definitive policy so students know exactly the expectations we have of them before they come in the door.”

The board voted 5-2 in favor of the measure, which Principal John Ross originally proposed two months ago in response to, he said, “continual problems with distracting clothing that disrupted the learning environment.”

“I strongly suggest you pass this measure,” Ross said to the board before the vote. “We need to have a more definitive policy so students know exactly the expectations we have of them before they come in the door.”

It continues with information that gives contrasting views.

It continues with information that gives contrasting views.

The vote wasn’t met without conflict. Several students, including Student Body President Mary Callahan, spoke to the board before the vote, urging it to reconsider its passage.

“The clothing students wear is not distracting,” Callahan said. “The majority of students choose wisely when it comes to the clothes they wear each day. This measure is simply a knee-jerk reaction to the repeated problems of a few. We don’t need a policy to further restrict our rights.”

The vote wasn’t met without conflict. Several students, including Student Body President Mary Callahan, spoke to the board before the vote, urging it to reconsider its passage.

“The clothing students wear is not distracting,” Callahan said. “The majority of students choose wisely when it comes to the clothes they wear each day. This measure is simply a knee-jerk reaction to the repeated problems of a few. We don’t need a policy to further restrict our rights.”

It continues with additional background info.

It continues with additional background info.

According to school records and Ross, administrators dealt with 18 incidents involving clothing issues in the past six months. Confidentiality laws prohibit finding the names of the students involved to determine if any were repeat offenders, as Callahan said, nor did Ross elaborate on the question when asked.

The specifics of the new dress code include requiring students to wear “tuckable” shirts and no pants that reveal undergarments. Skirts and shorts must be no higher than two inches above the knee, and hats and head coverings, including scarves, are prohibited. The new policy will go into effect with the beginning of the next school year.

According to school records and Ross, administrators dealt with 18 incidents involving clothing issues in the past six months. Confidentiality laws prohibit finding the names of the students involved to determine if any were repeat offenders, as Callahan said, nor did Ross elaborate on the question when asked.

The specifics of the new dress code include requiring students to wear “tuckable” shirts and no pants that reveal undergarments. Skirts and shorts must be no higher than two inches above the knee, and hats and head coverings, including scarves, are prohibited. The new policy will go into effect with the beginning of the next school year.

Most importantly,keep it short.

Most importantly,keep it short.

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

Find a “face”—someone who’s been affected by the news.

Find a “face”—someone who’s been affected by the news.

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

Find a “face”—someone who’s been affected by the news.

Give readers something new to think about the news (a unique angle).

Find a “face”—someone who’s been affected by the news.

Give readers something new to think about the news (a unique angle).

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

Find a “face”—someone who’s been affected by the news.

Give readers something new to think about the news (a unique angle).

Work in conjunction with short Web updates.

Find a “face”—someone who’s been affected by the news.

Give readers something new to think about the news (a unique angle).

Work in conjunction with short Web updates.

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

What about long-form/narrative journalistic stories?

Make sure they’re good. Make sure they’re good.

A note about blogs.A note about blogs.

Pros: They’re quick and interactive, and they can give your publication a personality.

Pros: They’re quick and interactive, and they can give your publication a personality.

A note about blogs.A note about blogs.

Pros: They’re quick and interactive, and they can give your publication a personality.

Cons: They have fewer gatekeepers and non-journalistic blogs often rely on secondhand reporting.

Pros: They’re quick and interactive, and they can give your publication a personality.

Cons: They have fewer gatekeepers and non-journalistic blogs often rely on secondhand reporting.

A note about blogs.A note about blogs.

Write to your area of expertise. It’s the difference between discussing the

latest baseball trade with your buddies at the water cooler and discussing that same trade with the local beat reporter who’s covered the team for years…Who’s opinion do you trust more?

Write to your area of expertise. It’s the difference between discussing the

latest baseball trade with your buddies at the water cooler and discussing that same trade with the local beat reporter who’s covered the team for years…Who’s opinion do you trust more?

Web writing in action.Web writing in action.

cnn.com cnn.com

Web writing in action.Web writing in action.

hilite.org hilite.org

Your readers will still read.Your readers will still read.

Your readers will still read.But how do they read?

Your readers will still read.But how do they read?

Meet the needs of your readers.Meet the needs of your readers.

Meet the reads of your needers.Meet the reads of your needers.