Foust Chapter 5

1
Foust Chapter 5 7

• Writing and Editing Online/
• Using Online Reporting Sources

2
Introduction to Writing for Online Media

• The written word is the heart of online
  journalism
• Old rules of journalism still apply
• Some unique considerations exist

3
Scanning

• Online readers scan rather than read
• Reading material from a computer screen takes
  longer and is more tiring
• Serifs and san sarifs
• People will read online information if it is
  written and presented well

4
Writing for the Online Reader

• Headline writing important
• Short sentences and paragraphs
• Subheads and bolding
• Directness vs. sarcasm or wit
• Bullet points and lists
• Voice
• More personal, conversational

5
Story Structures

• Inverted pyramid
• Chronological
• Narrative
• Thematic

6
3-Layered Approach

• Scannable Heads and blurbs
• Online story
• Longer print story, multimedia extras and
  reporter notes

7
Updating Online Stories

• Online readers expect updated information,
  especially in breaking stories.
• Inverted pyramid story style can be modified or
  restructured easily.
• Key is to integrate new information smoothly into
  storykeep most important information near the
  beginning.

8
The Internet as a Reporting Source

• The Internet can be an extremely valuable
  information source.
• Journalists should treat information they find on
  the Internet the same way they treat any other
  informationwith caution.
• Merely delivering raw information is not
  journalism.

9
E-Mail Related Sources

• E-mail
• Newsgroups
• Listservs

10
Using E-Mail

• Benefits of time-shifting communication
• Should not be used in place of telephone or
  in-person interviews
• Why?
• Can be a useful tool to
• Establish initial contact
• Check facts
• Ask for follow-up information

11
Using Newsgroups and Listservs

• Can be havens for false information
• Can also be good sources for background
  information or to help locate sources
• Can lead to others who are working on the topic
  or who can be approached for advice
• http//newslink.org/email.html
• Can keep journalists up to date with current
  topics and provide a starting point for a story
• Provides a human touch for reaction and impact
• Identity issues?

12
Web PageBased Sources

• General references sources
• http//www.nytimes.com/navigator/
• Specialized sources
• http//powereporting.com/
• Search engines
• http//google.com/
• Directories
• Find people http//ojr.org/ojr/technology/1027538
  596.php
• Online journalism sites
• Wikis/Databases

13
Evaluating Web Site Owners

• Dissect the different parts of the URL
• Check the InterNIC Web site to find the
  registered owner of a Web site
• http//www.internic.net/

14
Other Evaluation Criteria

• Personal Web pagesjournalists need to be
  skeptical and check any information found there
• Other Web site items to check thoroughly
• Grammar and spelling
• Overall design
• Date for most recent update
• Contact information
• Be aware of actions of hackers