What makes a great news site?
In a word: credibility. Credibility is based on high quality graphics, and good writing.
The most valuable credibility comes from firsthand encounters. That means you seeing something firsthand, and reporting it. The value erodes as this experience becomes increasingly secondhand, thirdhand and worse.
After that, good writing comes in 2 forms: the writing itself (the content) and then how it is presented.
If you're a blogger, or in charge of designing articles for websites, remember the following:
- highlight keywords (people can skim a page in 3 quarters of a second)
- create meaningful subheadings (these must not regurgitate what is in the underlying paragraph)
- provide easy to read bulleted lists (like this one)
- present one idea per paragraph
- have a pyramidical structure (presenting essentially a punchline, and then providing supporting evidence as the underlying triangular structure
- half the word count you'd generally have in magazines and the newspaper
Bullseye
An interesting question here is to what extent you would want to target your text. For example, you could make it very simple and somewhat informal, but then the risk is a diluted, blank audience who might feel 'dumbed down'. Obviously, if it is adequately simple and readable, you get a more 'Reader's Digest' audience - that is, understood by all.
3 Areas
A more targetted style of writing (which I personally prefer) means a more targetted audience, which means revenue can be generated (via content related and targetted advertising). The risk of less simple text is turning away perhaps a majority of readers who prefer non-serious 'popcorn' content. Thus a good mix between quality, credibility and accessiblity is important.
Web 1.0 or 2.0?
What impact is online news having on print media? Is blogging having an impact on the journalistic profession? Yes. But the core of writing is still being done by experts.
If you want to compete, or even talk with the big guns in writing, you have to raise your game. In the same way, if you want your story to be picked up by the major newspapers, it has to be, at a minimum, a good brief.
What that means is, whether you are a citizen journalist or working for an online newsroom, your building blocks should build SOMETHING. Then it can be handed over and using the kernels* of information you're provided, converted to a higher form of knowledge or even wisdom (in the context of news).
Of course, if an article is so hyperlocal or specialised, it might be handed back to a reporter with this demand: flesh out, develop this story.
Captain Fantastic is Elastic
Since online news sites are more flexible than the more static and deadline fixated print media, it is possible for online resources to be based on a Web First scenario. The Web, when properly integrated, can be a highly elastic source of information.
In fact, the best result of news sites in particular, is where these platforms enable users to have a conversation. Communities want to speak amopngst themselves.
When short, simple articles break very quickly online, they can be handed over whilst still 'fresh' to be elaborated and developed in the print medium. This allows the online resource to fully develop itself as a fast and efficient detector of source material.
It can then function as the first originator of flexible and consistently fresh material. The newspaper feeds back and forward to its online counterpart, integrating what is most readable, relevant and appropriate for further fleshing out on paper. In essence, newspapers ought to carry those stories that are just that: the best stories.
One Playing Field
The Web First scenario should not be interpreted as a ranking system. That's not to be implied or inferred at any level. It's a chronological system which is intended to be functionally collaborative. This means Online and Print play on the same field, but perhaps spend more time is various sectors of the field.
It is helpful for the journalists and writers involved, I think, to have an integrated approach in order for Print and Online to enjoy the maximum benefit. If the mindset is that news does not belong to anyone, it is not owned, then inhouse sharing of stories (from online to print and vice versa) can encouraged and the corporate involved will see Win/Win results in both mediums.
Another area that should be the focus of the online journalist is an online follow up on stories. This can be followed through statistics, but even without a technical focus, you the writer can check to see how much coverage your story is getting. Is it still on the homepage after Day 1?
How To Impress...
On this site a number of work related stories (including How To Impress Your Boss)have done well, which should encourage the writer to investigate his theme even further with supporting material (perhaps: How to Impress Your Colleagues in this case).
Remember, many people in South Africa have web access at work, thus work related issues are going to interest them.
Another useful area to 'mine' for ideas is forums and message boards.
Google Maps
An exceptional underutlized area (online and in the print medium) is the simple use of maps and statistics. Google Maps is an extraordinary tool. Any person can mine the internet for statistics, and then visually represent these using Google Maps for very effective articles.
This can be applied to all manner of angles, from crime, to elections, to the number of schools in your neighborhood. Where are the most expensive houses, or the best restaurants, or the big malls in your area? Plot the statistics, and send them in.
A Final Tip
For regular registered reporters on this site: if you would like to quickly search through the archive of your (or other reporter's) stories (without logging in), type in the appropriate name in the searchbar (top right).
This can be used to quickly piece together all the links to stories you (and other reporters you might be interested in) have already produced. This is your easy to use portfolio. You can email the link to friends or prospective employees.
The Incredibles
Remember, at the end of the day, credibility works both ways. Writers want to be associated with a credible resource - whether it is a website, magazine or newspaper. But all these different forms of media also want to be associated with credible people too, including writers.
Credibility as stated above, is based on effort. Good writing does not always come easy; good graphics may take a little extra time to develop and fine-tune. But over the long term, the results will compliment your portfolio.
In a word: credibility. Credibility is based on high quality graphics, and good writing.
The most valuable credibility comes from firsthand encounters. That means you seeing something firsthand, and reporting it. The value erodes as this experience becomes increasingly secondhand, thirdhand and worse.
After that, good writing comes in 2 forms: the writing itself (the content) and then how it is presented.
If you're a blogger, or in charge of designing articles for websites, remember the following:
- highlight keywords (people can skim a page in 3 quarters of a second)
- create meaningful subheadings (these must not regurgitate what is in the underlying paragraph)
- provide easy to read bulleted lists (like this one)
- present one idea per paragraph
- have a pyramidical structure (presenting essentially a punchline, and then providing supporting evidence as the underlying triangular structure
- half the word count you'd generally have in magazines and the newspaper
Bullseye
An interesting question here is to what extent you would want to target your text. For example, you could make it very simple and somewhat informal, but then the risk is a diluted, blank audience who might feel 'dumbed down'. Obviously, if it is adequately simple and readable, you get a more 'Reader's Digest' audience - that is, understood by all.
3 Areas
A more targetted style of writing (which I personally prefer) means a more targetted audience, which means revenue can be generated (via content related and targetted advertising). The risk of less simple text is turning away perhaps a majority of readers who prefer non-serious 'popcorn' content. Thus a good mix between quality, credibility and accessiblity is important.
Web 1.0 or 2.0?
What impact is online news having on print media? Is blogging having an impact on the journalistic profession? Yes. But the core of writing is still being done by experts.
If you want to compete, or even talk with the big guns in writing, you have to raise your game. In the same way, if you want your story to be picked up by the major newspapers, it has to be, at a minimum, a good brief.
What that means is, whether you are a citizen journalist or working for an online newsroom, your building blocks should build SOMETHING. Then it can be handed over and using the kernels* of information you're provided, converted to a higher form of knowledge or even wisdom (in the context of news).
Of course, if an article is so hyperlocal or specialised, it might be handed back to a reporter with this demand: flesh out, develop this story.
Captain Fantastic is Elastic
Since online news sites are more flexible than the more static and deadline fixated print media, it is possible for online resources to be based on a Web First scenario. The Web, when properly integrated, can be a highly elastic source of information.
In fact, the best result of news sites in particular, is where these platforms enable users to have a conversation. Communities want to speak amopngst themselves.
When short, simple articles break very quickly online, they can be handed over whilst still 'fresh' to be elaborated and developed in the print medium. This allows the online resource to fully develop itself as a fast and efficient detector of source material.
It can then function as the first originator of flexible and consistently fresh material. The newspaper feeds back and forward to its online counterpart, integrating what is most readable, relevant and appropriate for further fleshing out on paper. In essence, newspapers ought to carry those stories that are just that: the best stories.
One Playing Field
The Web First scenario should not be interpreted as a ranking system. That's not to be implied or inferred at any level. It's a chronological system which is intended to be functionally collaborative. This means Online and Print play on the same field, but perhaps spend more time is various sectors of the field.
It is helpful for the journalists and writers involved, I think, to have an integrated approach in order for Print and Online to enjoy the maximum benefit. If the mindset is that news does not belong to anyone, it is not owned, then inhouse sharing of stories (from online to print and vice versa) can encouraged and the corporate involved will see Win/Win results in both mediums.
Another area that should be the focus of the online journalist is an online follow up on stories. This can be followed through statistics, but even without a technical focus, you the writer can check to see how much coverage your story is getting. Is it still on the homepage after Day 1?
How To Impress...
On this site a number of work related stories (including How To Impress Your Boss)have done well, which should encourage the writer to investigate his theme even further with supporting material (perhaps: How to Impress Your Colleagues in this case).
Remember, many people in South Africa have web access at work, thus work related issues are going to interest them.
Another useful area to 'mine' for ideas is forums and message boards.
Google Maps
An exceptional underutlized area (online and in the print medium) is the simple use of maps and statistics. Google Maps is an extraordinary tool. Any person can mine the internet for statistics, and then visually represent these using Google Maps for very effective articles.
This can be applied to all manner of angles, from crime, to elections, to the number of schools in your neighborhood. Where are the most expensive houses, or the best restaurants, or the big malls in your area? Plot the statistics, and send them in.
A Final Tip
For regular registered reporters on this site: if you would like to quickly search through the archive of your (or other reporter's) stories (without logging in), type in the appropriate name in the searchbar (top right).
This can be used to quickly piece together all the links to stories you (and other reporters you might be interested in) have already produced. This is your easy to use portfolio. You can email the link to friends or prospective employees.
The Incredibles
Remember, at the end of the day, credibility works both ways. Writers want to be associated with a credible resource - whether it is a website, magazine or newspaper. But all these different forms of media also want to be associated with credible people too, including writers.
Credibility as stated above, is based on effort. Good writing does not always come easy; good graphics may take a little extra time to develop and fine-tune. But over the long term, the results will compliment your portfolio.
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