Online Journalism – JOUR 3340

Class Notes-Planning Multimedia Stories- Writing for the WebFebruary 5, 2009

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 website

using the following criteria: Content: Does the website follow any of the rules on

writing 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?

Style Tips Here’s some advise from Jakob Nielsen, the

guru of web design and usability: Users do not read on the Web; instead they scan

the pages, trying to pick out a few sentences or even parts of sentences to get the information they want

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

Users detest anything that seems like marketing fluff or overly hyped language ("marketese") and prefer factual information.

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

Remember this Make it ‘tight and bright’ Use the 5 Ws, but really remember to the ‘So

what?’ Explain why I should care

Poynter says: “Banish gray” ‘Scannability’ ‘Splitability’

Linking is OK

Writing Style – ‘Chunking’ Information broken into ‘chunks’ of information. Web users prefer to print out long documents or save

them 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 read the story.

Organizing information into relevant ‘chunks’ helps keep the reader interested. Facilitates adding links to enhance interactivity. Be careful: Don’t 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 flow on your site.

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

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.

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 reference because you don’t know how story may link

Additional Style Tips Consider one idea per paragraph – even if

it’s 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 were just beginning to become commonplace.

Think Globally. Avoid regional/local terms that may be misunderstood by the broader audience.

Develop a voice, a style, a flow.

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 per

screen… and less if a reader is looking at story 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 more compelling?