This is a guide to translating your radio stories into web copy. We cover why text is important to your online audience, the differences between radio and online features, and some quick tips on converting your radio newscasts into web copy. The story we listened to in slide 11 is below: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/28/140853479/boomers-delusion-about-health-in-retirement

1. Writing for the Web
Webifying Features and Spots
But first, this news…

2. text

3. 1. Text can be searched
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4. 2. People like to read
Are you reading this text?
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5. 2. People like to read
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6. 2. People like to read
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7. 3. Text is fast
3:14 to listen vs. 1:00 to read text (480 words)
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8. 4. Text is more subtle
Core Publisher sites
July 2011 hourly traffic
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9. 5. Good writing engages
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10. Two terms
 Nut graf
News value of the story
Why now?
 Lede
The opening of the story
The lede is not to be buried
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11. Writing for the Web
Webifying Features and Spots

14. Compare nut graphs
Web:
But some experts worry that when it
comes to their health, boomers are
still woefully unprepared — or worse,
in denial.
Radio:
Some experts worry that the generation now
approaching retirement may actually be less
healthy in old age and that could have
serious financial consequences for the
nation as a whole.

15. Compare ledes
Radio:
Most people over 50 think they're likely to be
healthier and more active in retirement than their
parents were. That's what people said in a poll
conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.
But people may be wrong. Some experts worry that
the generation now approaching retirement may
actually be less healthy in old age and that could
have serious financial consequences for the nation
as a whole. NPR's Julie Rovner reports.
JULIE ROVNER: If you want to see what it means to
live a long and active life, look no further than the
rec room at the Greenspring Village Retirement
Community in Springfield, Virginia.
(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO GAME)
ROVNER: This is the Wii bowling competition for the
Northern Virginia Senior Olympics. Up now, the 80
to 99 age group. Given these competitors' age,
organizers are making a few accommodations.

16. Compare ledes
Web:
Most baby boomers say they're planning on an active
and healthy retirement, according to a new poll
conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.
And, in a switch from earlier years, more than two-
thirds recognize the threat of long-term care expenses
to their financial futures.
But some experts worry that when it comes to their
health, boomers are still woefully unprepared — or
worse, in denial.
"The mismatch between how people think the next
10 to 15 years is going to go and what current retirees
experience is something that's very consistent," says
Jeff Goldsmith, a health care futurist and author of
The Long Baby Boom: An Optimistic Vision for a
Graying Generation, a book about aging baby
boomers. "There is no question that one distinguishing
feature of our generation is this extraordinary, almost
genetic optimism. And the poll results look to me like
a lot of that optimism was drawn from a deep well of
self-delusion."

17. Additional Reporting

20. From a reader’s perspective:
Five differences in Web vs. radio writing
1. The journey isn’t as important as the facts – so give me those first
2. I will judge you for poor grammar, spelling and punctuation
3. If you can say it better than your source, summarize
4. Multiple ideas in one story won’t confuse me – I can reread
5. Details, details, details – this proves you know what you’re talking about

21. From a reader’s perspective:
Five similarities in Web vs. radio writing
1. A good story, is a good story, is a good story
2. Simple writing is the clearest writing – subject, verb, object
3. Sub-headlines signal a change
4. If it’s good, I’ll stay
5. People’s names are important

22. Spots

23. The QABCDS of converting your script
Q: Put quotation marks around transcribed acts
A: Attribution follows the quote, says vs. said
B: Break up long paragraphs, sentences and quotes
C: Convert numbers into digits
D: Add details like numbers and helpful links
S: Use bolded subheads to help your audience

24. Typical newscast online
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28. The QABCDS of converting your script
Q: Put quotation marks around transcribed acts
A: Attribution follows the quote, says vs. said
B: Break up long paragraphs, sentences and quotes
C: Convert numbers into digits
D: Add details like numbers and helpful links
S: Use bolded subheads to help your audience

29. Questions?
Ki-Min Sung
ksung@npr.org
310-815-4220
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