Headlines Headlines draw the reader into the story – even more so than in print. The point of a web story headline is to entice a reader to click into a story and read more. Headlines need to be literal – stay away from clever play on words, label headlines or gotcha headlines

Headlines draw the reader into the story – even more so than in print.

The point of a web story headline is to entice a reader to click into a story and read more.

Headlines need to be literal – stay away from clever play on words, label headlines or gotcha headlines

‘ Big Crash’ Page presentation, images and text can increase the headline’s impact. Words like ‘Big Crash’ make sense in bold above a photo of a car crash. A two-word headline has little chance of making sense without a big photo summing up the story. If a reader only sees ‘Big Crash’ without images or other context, what does this headline say? Stock market crash? Headlines take on the role of telling the entire story in limited words.

Page presentation, images and text can increase the headline’s impact. Words like ‘Big Crash’ make sense in bold above a photo of a car crash.

A two-word headline has little chance of making sense without a big photo summing up the story.

If a reader only sees ‘Big Crash’ without images or other context, what does this headline say? Stock market crash?

Headlines take on the role of telling the entire story in limited words.

Print vs. Online Text size can help impact Headlines show up in one place Headlines don’t change Subheads make push to readers Appear in multiple places on a site. Headlines are on external sites Headlines don’t always appear with other content. Can’t depend on size for impact Must be literal Headlines can be changed

Text size can help impact

Headlines show up in one place

Headlines don’t change

Subheads make push to readers

Appear in multiple places on a site.

Headlines are on external sites

Headlines don’t always appear with other content.

Can’t depend on size for impact

Must be literal

Headlines can be changed

SEO SEO = Search Engine Optimization News websites should be mines for users of search engines. Goal of SEO is to appear among the top listings on search engine results pages. Keyword use is the headline is one of the most positive factors for effective SEO. Think to yourself: "How would someone searching for this story find it? What keywords would I use in Google?" Examples

SEO = Search Engine Optimization

News websites should be mines for users of search engines. Goal of SEO is to appear among the top listings on search engine results pages.

Keyword use is the headline is one of the most positive factors for effective SEO.

Think to yourself: "How would someone searching for this story find it? What keywords would I use in Google?"

Examples

Links When might you use a link? Link to subject’s website Site gives background information on the topic in your story Report to government report, other research information How many links do you use? Provide only the best links There is not right number, but don’t provide links to every related bit of information; I’d stick to 3-5 links.

When might you use a link?

Link to subject’s website

Site gives background information on the topic in your story

Report to government report, other research information

How many links do you use?

Provide only the best links

There is not right number, but don’t provide links to every related bit of information; I’d stick to 3-5 links.

Permission to Link You can generally link to other sites without permission as long as you don’t imply that you are the content producer. When in doubt, ask. Call the producers/owners of a site, story, report, if you aren’t sure you can link to it. Discuss this with an editor first.

You can generally link to other sites without permission as long as you don’t imply that you are the content producer.

When in doubt, ask. Call the producers/owners of a site, story, report, if you aren’t sure you can link to it. Discuss this with an editor first.

Maintain those links; Open in new window Make sure the links in your story stay valid and don’t expire Have the links open in a new browser window

Make sure the links in your story stay valid and don’t expire

Have the links open in a new browser window

Links “Retired, Rehired; Many Collect Connecticut Pensions And Paychecks Obama Online State Still Struggling To Process New Jobless Claims

“Retired, Rehired; Many Collect Connecticut Pensions And Paychecks

Obama Online

State Still Struggling To Process New Jobless Claims