Return to Assignments

A Dozen Online Writing Tips

Written by Jonathan Dube


Contact

Jonathan Dube is an award winning print and online journalist. Currently, he is the managing producer for MSNBC.com, as well as the founder and publisher of CyberJournalist.net, a columnist and occasional visiting faculty member for The Poynter Institute, a senior editor for The American Press Institute, the chair of the 2003 Online News Association conference. (All information taken from Jonathan Dube on the web).

Jonathan Dube lists some tips for successful online writing.

  • KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: Keep in mind that online audiences are more prone to skimming over a story rather than reading the entire article. By keeping an online audience in mind, an online journalist will produce better online articles.

  • THINK FIRST -- AND THINK DIFFERENT: Write stories with this question in mind: What is the essence of the story I am trying to tell? Always write stories that lend themselves toward an online medium rather than those that don't. By placing pictures and other graphics in an article, this will lend a different avenue toward the story.

  • TAILOR YOUR NEWS GATHERING: Online journalists must tailor their interviewing and information gathering skills toward an online audience.

  • WRITE LIVELY AND TIGHT: Strive for a distince voice in online articles. Use strong verbs and lively prose. Use humor. Conversational styles work well when writing for the web.

  • EXPLAIN: Let the audience know all the details about the subject you're writing about.

  • NEVER BURY THE LEAD: Since online journalism is about speed and efficiency, buring the lead will make an audience deter from the story instead of stick with it.

  • DON'T PILE ON: This means not to put the least important items about the subject at the top and then piling on all the other information. By sticking to the inverted pyramid style, this can be prevented.

  • SHORT BUT SWEET: Many stories on the web are too long for their audience, resulting in unfinished stories. By keeping a story short but to the point, this can be avoided. Roy Peter Clark sets a good guideline, sticking to 800 words for online stories.

  • BREAK IT UP: Larger blocks of text on a screen will discourage readers from continuing. Break up text will indents and white space to get a better effect.

  • ELIMINATE THE GUESSWORK: Since an audience may not know where they are getting to when they click on a link, clarify to the audience where they are going to up front.

  • DO NOT FEAR THE LINK: Don't be afraid to link. Many stories are paranoid they will lose their audience when they get too heavy with links. Linking helps keep an audience entertained.

  • TAKE RISKS...BUT REMEMBER THE BASICS: Always remember the fundamentals of journalism, but since online journalism is new and evolving, don't be afraid to to different and challenging thins within articles.

    • To read more about Jonathan Dube and this article go to A dozen Online Writing Tips