Writing for WebWriting for Web

ByBy

Yun TaihoYun Taiho

Inverted PyramidInverted Pyramid

• Main point in the first sentence

• Back up in subsequent paragraphs with quotes and background information

• Colorful Intro does not work on the internet

• Separate stories

5W1H5W1H

• Who

• What

• Where

• When

• Why

• How

More Development of 5W1H in web More Development of 5W1H in web WritingWriting

• Who – a separate profile, a picture story, a video

• What – link to document, official reports, write FAQ, pictures, ask readers to send in views and pictures, link to a special blogs, start a blog

• Where – maps, graphics, data on regions and countries

More Development of 5W1H in web More Development of 5W1H in web WritingWriting

• When – Background, a calendar, a timeline of significant dates and events

• How – Analysis, Flash interactive or animation, live Q & A for readers to engage with expert issue

Writing for SEOWriting for SEO

• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

• Specific Keywords e.g. Names, Places and Figures

• e.g. 青年勇救遇溺漢 VS 仁大學生石澳救四川遇溺遊客

• Hints: Clear, concise headlines that use keywords

ScannabilityScannability

• Clear, Unambiguous Headlines e.g. 明天會更好 VS 江澤民提字諭香港明天會更好

• Intro – as – summary : Having your first paragraph sum up what the story is about

• Sub heading• Bullet or number lists• Direct Quotes• Heyperlinks• Bold or highlighted words

EditingEditing

• Preview the story before publishing• Check words, grammar, punctuation• Write headlines and intro for SEO• Check that hyperlinks work and stories format

properly• Be clear about attribution and source material• Be careful about cut and paste – copyright and

wrong citation • Libel Alert – Use as much as original material

and state clear of the source

What if I make a mistakeWhat if I make a mistake

• Correct Immediately and put a note on stating the nature of the correction e.g. “ 致辭” 變 “辭職”

What if someone write negative coWhat if someone write negative comments about a storymments about a story

• Respond or challenge comments

• Ignore comments

Is Wikipedia and online information Is Wikipedia and online information reliable?reliable?

• Useful but need cross-check facts, go to source material and get on the phone

• e.g. 肥肥年齡、內地爆炸場面

Web writing toolsWeb writing tools

• Still image

• Video

• Audio

• Audio Slideshows

• Animation

• Hypertext to link to information

• Interactivity

Web writing toolsWeb writing tools

• Community Elements e.g. polls, forums social networks

• Blogs• Data• Maps• Timelines• FAQ• User-generated content

A good web writing Journalist A good web writing Journalist thinksthinks

• Would this story have impact if we used video of the event or the people involved?

• Would an interactive graphic help people visualize this (how the earthquake happen)?

• Would a blog commentary keep people up to date

• Is it a picture story

A good web writing Journalist thinkA good web writing Journalist thinkss

• Does this story have history? Shall we need a timeline?

• Are there a lot of questions from reader and need to be answered by FAQ?

When Breaking News we also need When Breaking News we also need to thinkto think

• Get first few paragraphs of the story online alerting the reader more is to follow

• Assign roles to team members – lead writer, editor, pictures

• Call to action to reader submit text, pictures, audio video and lead

• Track blog, Twitter and other online material• Rely on your own reporters to verify facts• Take deep breaths and keep clear head