Journalism onlineThe World Wide Web, the past, the present, the future

It used to be …We had three TV networksWe had broadcast radioWe had newspapersWe had magazines

Later on …Cable television

Along came the 1990s …Early 1990s, the Internet starts to

gain popularity among the general public.

At first, sort of a high-tech telegraph. People used it for email, to talk to others in chat rooms, AOL …

Since then We’ve seen an explosion in

information, the amount of it available at the click of a button, and the creativity in expressing ourselves in the digital realm.

Social networking, music and video file sharing, blogs, YouTube.

A revolution in communication

Traditional media and the ‘netTraditional media sources have

gone through a number of approaches with the World Wide Web- Ignore it- Dip a toe in- Dive in

Do their approaches make sense?

How do we use media today?What sources of information do

you use?Your parents?Your grandparents?

Where are we going?The rate of change and evolution

with information dissemination is quite rapid right now.

What is popular today may not be popular six months from now. Something else may be the rage.

Scary and excitingRapid change is both scary and

exciting for those who work in media.

Offers opportunities for creativity with new products and new forms of expression.

Traditional media vs. onlineTraditional media: Two

dimensionalOnline: Three dimensionalMany of the tools, practices and

principles we’ve used in the past translate well to the Web.- Inverted pyramid- Broadcast techniques- The line is blurred between traditional print, broadcast

Characteristics of the WebImmediacyFlexibilityPermanencyCapacityInteractivity

ImmediacyContent is easier to go with

immediately online than in print or broadcast.

Audience can receive instant alerts.

Costs to place information online quickly are cheaper than traditional.

Audiences now accustomed to the immediate dissemination of information online.

FlexibilityWeb allows for much greater

creativity with how info is presented. The story can be relayed more effectively:- Story, video, audio, q and a interview, slideshow, graphics (interactive?), Web chat, blogs, comments, on and on

PermanencyWeb offers not only easy access,

but easy permanent access to info.

No paper, tape, etc. to maintain. It’s there and available all the time.

Or is it? Is it permanent information if it can be fundamentally altered/removed/changed?

Transparency.

CapacityNews organizations can enhance

their traditional products with Web-only.

Provides an outlet for viewers and readers who want a more in-depth experience with a report.

Allows those who want to explore more about a topic to do that without seeking out large quantities of physical information.

Interactivity2-D traditional vs. 3-D Web mediaAudience members can pick and

choose what they want to experience.

More connection opportunities for content producers with the audience.

Allows site hosts to track popularity of certain topics. Helps with audience appeal, advertising.

LinksWith interactivity, quality sites

will provide links to allow readers who are interested in a topic explore more about that topic.

Links may also provide audience a chance to see previous articles on the same subject.

Old techniques that workInverted pyramid style, concise

and efficient writing, and lists of info are all traditional media techniques that translate well to the Web.

Why?

Visuals, writing, the WebWe are a very visual society. You

need to remember this when writing.

Short paragraphs.Varied length of sentences and

paragraphs.Bullets, bold words.Italics – use sparingly, and only a

couple words. No long paragraphs of italics.

HeadlinesDuring a Web search, what turns

up?Headlines: Traditional vs. online.Clear, specific, to the point

headlines on your stories.Headlines are not there to tell the

whole story. Rather, think of them like an advertisement for or a hint at what the reader will find in the story.

Summaries, intros, pointsSome Web sites use short story

summaries in conjunction with the headlines.- Kind of like inverted pyramid leads.

Intros: Often, videos are accompanied by a couple paragraphs.

Points: Sometimes, stories are displayed with a few main topics/points.

The more you know …It used to be that journalists focused on

being real good at specific skills:- Writing- Copy editing- Design and graphics- Photography

These roles still exist. But the lines are often blurred now.- The more varied skills you offer, the more valuable you are to an employer.

More, but more creativeBeing skilled in more areas allows

content producers to be able to pick and choose the best ways to inform the audience.

Story, slideshow, audio report, graphic – all produced by the same person.

The WebOffers immediacy, interactivity,

and opportunities for creativity that we didn’t have before.

Audience expects participation.Emphasizes speed of information

like never before.There’s much more information

out there than ever before, which means …

OpportunityNew media products are joining

the traditional sources/brands all the time.

Those that do the job the best will succeed. Those who attract an interested, audience that returns again and again will really succeed.

Rapid change can be scary, but it is also exciting.

Questions?