5 Feb 09 Online Journalism – MultimediaPackages&Writing Class Notes Feb 5 2009

8/14/2019 5 Feb 09 Online Journalism MultimediaPackages&Writing Class Notes Feb 5 2009

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Online Journalism JOUR 3340

Class Notes

-Planning Multimedia Stories

- Writing for the WebFebruary 5, 2009


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For Tuesday, Feb. 10

Go to http://newsvoyager.com and

http://newsdirectorycom

Find two newspaper websites and two TV websites

Write 300-400 post for your blog analyzing the websiteusing the following criteria:

Content: Does the website follow any of the rules onwriting for the web?

Functionality: Is the website easy to use?

Navigation: How easy can you find content on the

site? Audio/Video Quality: Is there any? Is it useful?

Interactivity: How does it engage readers?
http://newsvoyager.com/http://newsdirectorycom/http://newsdirectorycom/http://newsvoyager.com/


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Style Tips

Heres some advise from Jakob Nielsen, theguru of web design and usability: Users do not read on the Web; instead they scan

the pages, trying to pick out a few sentences oreven parts of sentences to get the informationthey want

Users do not like long, scrolling pages: theyprefer the text to be short and to the point

Users detest anything that seems like marketingfluff or overly hyped language ("marketese")and prefer factual information.
http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/writing.htmlhttp://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/writing.html


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Remember this

Know your audience

Is the content relevant to your readers?

Do readers really want this information?

Define the form(s)

Interactive: graphics and other elements

Slideshows: with or without audio

Polls/Surveys

Write Visually

Use bulleted lists Use numbered lists

Use Tables

Include pictures and other graphics

Source: http://www.usability.gov/design/writing4web.html


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Remember this

Make it tight and bright

Use the 5 Ws, but really remember to the Sowhat?

Explain why I should care Poynter says: Banish gray

Scannability

Splitability

Linking is OK


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Writing Style Chunking

Information broken into chunks of information.

Web users prefer to print out long documents or savethem on their hard drives.

Long stories on the web are hard to read. The more a

reader needs to scroll, the less likely they are to readthe story.

Organizing information into relevant chunks helpskeep the reader interested. Facilitates adding links toenhance interactivity. Be careful: Dont divide content

into too many parts or readers will lose interest. Chunking is a method to create consistency of web

style, and helps readers understand the content flowon your site.

Source: Webstyle Guide: http://webstyleguide.com/site/chunk.html


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Writing Style

Headlines Compelling On the web, headlines sell the story

Six to 10 words

Strong verbs

Most important items first

Question headlines workable

Blurbs Summaries of story, often on home page and

linked to full length story

Briefs A complete story in just a few sentences.


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Writing Style

Conversational style

Cross between broadcast writing and print

Lively verbs, colorful adjectives and distinct

nouns. Active voice always!

Short paragraphs

Be aware of references to your sources Consider using full name on second referencebecause you dont know how story may link


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Additional Style Tips

Consider one idea per paragraph even ifits just one sentence.

Write in easily understood sentences.

Include links as part of your copy E.g. Bill Gates [link to his bio] created Microsoft

[link to microsoft.com] at a time when PCs werejust beginning to become commonplace.

Think Globally. Avoid regional/local termsthat may be misunderstood by the broaderaudience.

Develop a voice, a style, a flow.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/default.mspxhttp://microsoft.com/http://microsoft.com/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/default.mspx


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Web Story Structure

Get to the point Story must be told in 50 words ... Then

your reader MIGHT read the rest

REMEMBER: only about 100-150 lines perscreen and less if a reader is looking atstory on a PDA.

Make everything you write relevant. Constantly ask yourself:

Why should the reader care about this? What elements of interactivity can be used to

engage the reader to make the content morecompelling?

Documents

5 Feb 09 Online Journalism – MultimediaPackages&Writing Class Notes Feb 5 2009