Online Journalism

1. Chapter 12 Online Journalism

2. Anatomy of a News Story • Web/Online • When preparing news for web consider… • Announce the news as soon as possible • Update in increments • Tell when there is more to come • Promote within the site • Provide links to other pages on same site (videos, pics, etc) • Post multimedia • Exclusive audio, video, etc

3. In Honolulu and Fort Myers, Fla., • A MOJO is a new breed of journalist • Mobile Journalists • Equipped with • Notepads, Cameras, Recorders • Cell phones, Laptops • To file news stories online at a moments notice

4. Immediacy • Updated news throughout the day • Breaking news should be posted on the web • Delivered to • Cell phones, e-mail, websites • Via RSS Feeds

5. Interactivity • Ability of others (audience/subscribers) • To post • Blogs • Comments/ Messages • Graphics • Clickable maps • To find locations • What are some ways you interact with news sites? • Does the interaction help retain you as a visitor?

6. Multimedia • New technology has increased it’s prevalence • Applied to smaller projects • More abundant across the web • Used by more media companies • Newspaper • Magazines • Television • Online

7. Innovation • The Internet offers more storytelling forms • Breaking news – Inverted Pyramid • Allows content producers to be creative • Long/Short stories • Miniprofiles • Question/Answer • Photo stories • Quizzes • Lists • Games

8. Reporting for the Web • Plan for full coverage • When reporting get as much information as possible • Audio/video • Copy of documents • Additional info for posting online

9. Reporting for the Web • Equipment • When preparing for online reporting • Additional tools may include • Tape recorder • Cell phone • Digital camera w/extra batteries • Laptop • These tools will help gather & update content quickly

10. Reporting for the Web • Time lines • Note down times/dates as stories are covered • Offer audience an account of event details • Disaster story • Crime event/trial

11. Reporting for the Web • Updates and Follow up stories • Web allows for short, frequent updates • New info posted immediately • Longer more thorough follow ups • Can be prepared for print/broadcast editions • Think ahead, plan for updates and follow-ups

12. Reporting for the Web • E-mail reporting • Good way to contact had to reach people • Get limited information • Face to face or telephone interviewing • Still preferable

13. Reporting for the Web • Check Accuracy & Timeliness • When using information from web • Check the following info • Date of information • Reliability of website • Look at extension (.com, .org, .edu, .gov, etc)

14. Online Readers • Stories reviewed online • Viewed differently than print/broadcast stories • Eye track studies have shown • Web readers first look at text/briefs • People will read online stories in full if interested • Web readers • More likely to finish a story than print readers • Alternative story forms help readers remember facts

15. Online Readers • Linear vs Nonlinear • Web - Allows access to info in any order • Print & broadcast - Written from beginning to end • Which of these do you find more engaging?

16. Online Readers • Embedded vs External Links • Links within the text of an article are embedded • Links at the end/side are external

17. Story Planning • The tools available to online reporting • Require journalists to plan ahead • Multimedia story • Podcast, video, pictures, etc • Hyper links • Tools also determine how information • Will be gathered • Will be presented

18. Story Planning • Once storytelling format is determined • Think about elements you will use • Timelines • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) • Interactivity • Lists or Data for full coverage • Miniprofiles • Multimedia • Related Links

19. Writing Techniques • There is no single way to write for web • Choose the style best for your story • Some guidelines to consider • Write short • Write for readers to scan website • Write to the point • Use common language • Put important info in first two paragraphs

20. Headlines Blurbs & Briefs • Headlines • Should be brief • Single line • Better than multiple lines • Six to 10 words create better links • Tips • Use strong verbs • Put most important words first • Avoid articles (The, a or an) • Use questions if subject is intereting

21. Headlines Blurbs & Briefs • Blurbs • Brief summaries written below headlines • Should include 5 W’s • Summary lead can be used • Or nutgraph if different type of lead exists • Blurb writing tips • Write a clear summary • Avoid repeating headline • Address reader when appropriate

22. Headlines Blurbs & Briefs • Briefs • Longer than a blurb (2-3 paragraphs) • Blurbs and briefs • Offer readers an alternative to reading the full story

23. Story Structure • Inverted Pyramid • Gets the story out quickly • Favored for web stories • List Format • Breaks up text helps, readers scan web quickly • Q & A Format • Good alternative for web writing • Still needs an introduction

24. Revise • Cut every word or paragraph • That does not advance the story • Take Risks • Be Flexible • Be Smart • Be Daring

25. Online Journalism Exercise • Using your blog that you created earlier this semester. • Upload at least 5 stories as full text stories. • Incorporate 2 relevant internal links (non-video) • Incorporate 1 external link (that is different than internals) • Include at least 1 image for each article • Include at least 1 video link for each article • For each article include a blurb at top that is different than the lead • Experiment with elements discussed in class • Include lists, short headlines, etc