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Writing Online

There are some important tips to writing online effectively. It’s important to remember that there is a difference between writing for print journalism and online journalism. In online journalism, a key element to keep in mind is that the audience wants their news and to the point. It only takes the audience less than two seconds to divert their attention.

Steve Klein, professor and coordinator of the Electronic Journalism Program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia says it best when he says that we live in a “one click world.”

In his article A Dozen Online Writing Tips, CyberJournalist.net publisher Jonathan Dube has addressed twelve tips for online writing that will make a writer a trailblazer in the online writing profession.

Audience

• Keep the readers’ needs and habits in mind
• Readers tend to skim rather than read
• They hunt for information instead of taking in what is presented
• Know the target audience

Be innovative

• Think of the best way to convey the story
• Use elements such as

  -Audio
  -Video
  -Clickable graphics, text, and links

Customize how news is gathered

• Keep in mind how different news elements compliment and supplement each other
• Look for words to go with images, audio, and video
• Use data that can be interactive

Write actively, not passively

• Tight, simple, declarative sentences
• One idea per sentence
• Good flow
• Strong verbs, sharp nouns