Writing for the WebUjjwal Acharya

Most of the content is derived from or based on writings of

Jakob Nielsenhttp://www.useit.com/

This sessionWhat we are going to discuss and do?

How and why are web writing different from news written for newspapers, radios and televisions.

Discuss about headline and need to write teaser text

Finally, try writing a small content for web using everything we discussed

Discussion on paragraphing, sub-titling, visual aesthetics and use of eye-friendly stuffs – photos / lists /info-boxes

How Users Read on the Web

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html

• They don't read, they just scan the page. • 79 % of always scan page; only 16 % read word-by-word.

So what to do then?

Simple, write scannable text, using• highlighted keywords• meaningful sub-headings• bulleted lists• one idea per paragraph• Concise text

The F TheoryOf Pattern of Reading Web Content

By the way: F is for FAST! What were you thinking?

Reading on computer screen

Is it same as reading newspaper or book?

Headlines

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/headlines-bbc.html

The average headline is mere 5 words and 34 characters.

So, good headlines are

• short• rich in information scent• front-loaded with the keywords• understandable out of context• predictable

TeaserThe first paragraph of news is not the lead

Teaser is important for two reasons

• Users do not read much on the web• On index page (such as homepage), only

headlines and teasers are displayed.

Teaser is a paragraph that tells the details of the news story but should also leave lure user to click to read full story!

It should contain many of 5WH to summarize story but could leave one or two to keep the interest!

Headlines & Teasers

SUB-TITLECould be simple ‘what to come’ summary or quote or simple two-word description No need to stress over to find clever sub-title

Long story shortHow to write news for web?

PARAGRAPHINGOne idea per paragraphOne or two short sentence per paragraphBlank line after each paragraphBreak after 4 or 5 paragraphs by sub-title or visual stuff

VISUAL STUFFS• Photo• Bulleted list• Info box• Hyperlink

Example

Watch out for

• white spaces around• Length of paragraphs• Number of sentences in a

paragraph• Use of photos• Use of sub-title

Let’s Begin!

Now,

Please write aNEWS orOPINION orEXPERIENCE

on eitherMEDIA orCONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE

Approximately 400 words

THANK YOU!ujjwal.acharya@gmail.comwww.facebook.com/ujjwal.acharyawww.NepaliVoices.com