The document provides tips for writing for the web as a journalist. It emphasizes clarity and using active words, lists, and straightforward subheadings. It also discusses linking to attribution and supplemental information, making corrections, updating stories, and tools for online research and reporting like Google Alerts, RSS feeds, and searching social media. Finally, it discusses different online story forms like maps, slideshows, video, and Q&As that can supplement written articles.

1. News on the Web Andrew Chavez, Texas Center for Community Journalism

2. Writing for the Web

3. Style Clarity is more important than ever Be the human SEO first, the rest will follow

4. Presentation Straight-forward, no-nonsense subheds Active words Lists

5. Link The Web’s attribution Smith was arrested last month after police discovered $3,000 worth of marijuana at a local farmhouse. Council member Smith cited last year’s election controversyfor the decision. Associate sidebars, mainbars and archives Read more about John Smith in this profile See a video of Smith’s performance here

6. Corrections Append to everywhere it’s relevant Typical Web correction: This story was edited at 4:15 p.m. Friday to correct the spelling of John Smyth’s name.

7. Updates Remember how users enter your site Direct them to the most recent information Typical format: UPDATE: The charges against Smith were dropped and his twin brother, James Smith, was arrested in connection with this case. More information here.

8. Reporting on the Web Some useful tools to supplement your reporting

9. Google Alerts Sign up at http://www.google.com/alerts Use your city’s name Watch developing, breaking stories Plug your newspaper’s name in

10. Watch important web sites RSS Google Reader Microsoft Outlook http://www.changedetection.com http://www.archive.org

11. Search social media Twitter http://search.twitter.com http://www.tweetbeep.com Term monitoring with Hootsuite Facebook Built-in search for people and status updates Monitor groups, pages, etc.

12. Search the ‘deep web’ Pipl http://www.pipl.com

13. Ask questions Reach out on social media Post a query online with your contact information Involve your readers Ask for photos Have them search for documents Use their expertise

14. Listen Read the comments on your story Check social media after your story is published

15. Online story forms Supplementing your writing online

16. Find the best form Is this a better visual story? What can multimedia do that I can’t? How can I supplement my story?

17. Raw material Police reports Court documents Appropriately redacted Presentations from meetings Texts of speeches Budgets

18. The map Google Maps built-in editor http://maps.google.com Search for maps “mash-ups”

19. The slideshow User-paced slideshows Flickr Audio-driven slideshows Soundslides Windows Movie Maker iMovie An example: http://www.pe.com/multimedia/slideshow/2008/20080407_deaf/

20. The video Broadcast-type video You set the story up You stand in front of the camera Source-driven video Interviewees drive the story Hands-off approach http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2009/08/10/from-youtube-to-carnegie-hall/

21. Q&A