43. Don’tpileon.
In an effort to seem as current as possible with
breaking news, sites will often put the latest
development in a story at the top — no matter
how incremental the development.
46. Writetightandlively.
Good broadcast writing uses primarily tight,
simple declarative sentences and sticks to
one idea per sentence.
It avoids the longer clauses of print writing.
47. Writetightandlively.
Good broadcast writing uses primarily tight,
simple declarative sentences and sticks to
one idea per sentence.
It avoids the longer clauses of print writing.
You’re writing for the ear. How can you
help the listener to see what you’re saying?
48. Writetightandlively.
Writing for the web, tablet and mobile should
be a cross between broadcast and print
-- tighter and punchier than print
-- more literate and detailed than broadcast writing
51. Putthepowerattheend.
This is a broadcast tip. It’s also magical for print.
Powerful stories have powerful sentences.
Identify the most important or surprising part
of every sentence and order the information
accordingly.
64. Writesearchableheadlines.
Most people don’t go to your homepage to
find what they want to read, they use RSS feeds, etc.
Be realistic about what people will search for.
Use unique, proper nouns: places, people, things.
67. Bestraightforward.
When people click on something that’s not
worth it, they lose trust in you as a source and
are less likely to come back and click on things
in the future.
69. Writetheinvisibletext.
Use the words that your audience will look for most.
Use free keyword help services like Google.
https://adwords.google.com/o/Targeting/Explorer?__c=1000000000&__u=1000000000&ideaRequestType=KEYWORD_IDEAS
74. Don’tfearthelink.
Studies suggest that links to supporting information
improve the credibility of your content.
People go to sites that do a good job of compiling
click-worthy links.
82. Helppeopleskimanddive.
Highlight about three times as many words online as
you would in a print article.
Bullets and lists draw attention to important points.
Use subheads to keep people reading.
84. Makethemostofconversation.
When people make it to the end of your story,
give them someplace relevant to go.
Don’t make them scroll all the way back to the top.
Let them respond.
85. Talk about a story.
Share a story.
Recommend a story.
88. “Always get
the name
of the dog.”
Advice from Roy Peter Clark,
Poynter vice president and senior scholar:
Saturday, March 22, 2014
89. Dig for the
concrete and
specific, details
that appeal to
the senses.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
90. “I remember a police story in the St. Pete Times.
It was an oppressively hot, humid Florida day, and things
started to go badly for a family who lived in town.
“First the air-conditioner broke down, making it
unbearably sticky for the husband, wife, and mother-in-law.
The mother-in-law’s irritation increased when the TV went
on the blink.”
Saturday, March 22, 2014
91. “The reporter didn’t tell me, but I wanted to know …
what was the woman watching at the time? Was it Jeopardy?
Wheel of Fortune? Maybe One Life to Live?
“The older woman complained to her son-in-law that the TV
wasn’t working. So the son-in-law did what any Florida man
would do under such circumstances: He shot out the screen
of the television set with a handgun.”
Saturday, March 22, 2014
92. “What followed was a stand-off with police and the man’s
eventual surrender.
“The reporter, does tell us, bless her, that the man’s foul mood
and subsequent violence were influenced by the fact that
he drank 24 cans of beer that day. Black Label beer.
“Not Heineken or Budweiser or Coors. But Black Label.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
93. “What followed was a stand-off with police and the man’s
eventual surrender.
“The reporter, does tell us, bless her, that the man’s foul mood
and subsequent violence were influenced by the fact that
he drank 24 cans of beer that day. Black Label beer.
“Not Heineken or Budweiser or Coors. But Black Label.
“No wonder he shot out the television.”
Saturday, March 22, 2014
94. Roy Peter Clark
Poynter Vice President
“Always get
the name
of the dog.”
(Or, the beer.)
Saturday, March 22, 2014