12.1 Online news writing and web-specific formats

Online news writing demands a unique approach tailored to digital audiences. Writers must adapt their style, using concise language and scannable formats to capture attention quickly. The inverted pyramid structure becomes even more crucial, ensuring the most important information is front and center.

Web-specific formats like slideshows, infographics, and interactive content enhance storytelling and engage readers. Multimedia elements, such as videos and data visualizations, provide additional context and make complex information more digestible. These tools help create a richer, more immersive news experience for digital consumers.

News Writing for Digital Audiences

Adapting Writing Style for Online Platforms

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Top images from around the web for Adapting Writing Style for Online Platforms

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  The Engagement Pyramid — Mobilisation Lab View original

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  Types of Reading Material | Basic Reading and Writing View original

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  Inverted Pyramid | Asylum for Thoughts View original

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• Online news writing requires a more concise, scannable style compared to print, often using shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to break up text
• The inverted pyramid structure, where the most important information is presented first, is especially crucial for online news to quickly capture reader attention
• Writing compelling headlines and subheadings is essential in online news to attract readers and improve search engine optimization (SEO)
• Understanding the characteristics and preferences of digital audiences, such as their shorter attention spans and tendency to skim content, is key to adapting news writing for online platforms

Incorporating Multimedia Elements

• Online news stories often incorporate multimedia elements like images, videos, and interactive features to enhance the storytelling and engage digital audiences
• Videos can provide additional context, interviews, or visual demonstrations to support the written content
• Interactive features, such as quizzes or polls, encourage reader participation and increase engagement with the news story
• Data visualizations, like charts or graphs, can help readers better understand complex information or trends related to the topic

Web-Specific Formats for News

Visual Storytelling Formats

• Slideshows are a web-specific format that presents information through a series of images or slides, often with captions or accompanying text (photo essays, step-by-step guides)
• Infographics are a visual format that combines images, charts, and minimal text to present complex information or data in an easily digestible manner (timelines, comparisons, process explanations)
• 360-degree videos and virtual reality experiences are emerging web-specific formats that can immerse readers in a news story and provide a unique perspective (event coverage, location tours)

Interactive and Dynamic Content

• Interactive graphics, such as data visualizations and maps, allow readers to engage with and explore information in a dynamic, hands-on way (election results, weather patterns, economic trends)
• Multimedia content, including videos, audio clips, and animations, can be embedded within online news stories to provide additional context and enhance the reader experience (interviews, news clips, explainer videos)
• Interactive timelines enable readers to navigate through events chronologically, often with multimedia elements and additional information for each event (historical events, case studies, product launches)

Online Readability and Engagement

Structuring Articles for Readability

• Using short paragraphs, typically no more than 3-4 sentences, improves online readability by creating white space and making the content appear less intimidating
• Subheadings should be used to break up the article into logical sections, making it easier for readers to navigate and locate specific information
• Bullet points and numbered lists are effective for presenting key facts, statistics, or steps in a process, as they make the content more scannable and visually appealing

Engaging Writing Techniques

• Writing in an active voice and using conversational language can make online news articles more engaging and relatable to readers
• Incorporating relevant images, videos, or other multimedia elements throughout the article can break up text, provide visual interest, and keep readers engaged
• Using storytelling techniques, such as anecdotes or personal experiences, can help create an emotional connection with readers and make the news story more memorable
• Posing questions or presenting surprising facts can pique readers' curiosity and encourage them to continue reading the article

Hyperlinks and Web-Native Elements in News

Effective Hyperlinking Practices

• Hyperlinks allow writers to link to related content, sources, or background information, providing readers with additional context and the ability to explore topics further
• Internal linking, or linking to other articles within the same website, can help keep readers engaged and improve the site's navigation and SEO
• External linking to reputable sources and original documents enhances the credibility and transparency of the news story
• Anchor links can be used to create a clickable table of contents, allowing readers to quickly jump to specific sections of a longer article

Integrating Social Media and User-Generated Content

• Social media embeds, such as tweets or Instagram posts, can be incorporated into news stories to provide real-time updates, reactions, or first-hand accounts related to the topic
• User-generated content, such as reader comments, photos, or videos, can be featured in news articles to foster community engagement and provide diverse perspectives
• Social media sharing buttons should be prominently displayed to encourage readers to share the article on their own social networks, increasing its reach and potential for viral spread
• Live blogs or live-tweeting can be used to cover breaking news events in real-time, incorporating updates from reporters, official sources, and social media reactions