Intro to Writing for Electronic DeliveryIntro to Writing for Electronic Delivery

JMC 239Abilene Christian University

JMC 239Abilene Christian University

Terms to knowTerms to know

Computer mediated communication (CMC)

Internet and intranet Blogs Posts Micro-blogs (Twitter) Social media (Facebook, Myspace) Consumer-generated video (YouTube)

Computer mediated communication (CMC)

Internet and intranet Blogs Posts Micro-blogs (Twitter) Social media (Facebook, Myspace) Consumer-generated video (YouTube)

Terms to knowTerms to know Flickr Podcasts RSS feeds, subscriptions and

Aggregation E-mail alerts E-mail marketing Hyperlinks Navigation

Flickr Podcasts RSS feeds, subscriptions and

Aggregation E-mail alerts E-mail marketing Hyperlinks Navigation

What’s different about writing for the Web? (It depends on how you think about it)

What’s different about writing for the Web? (It depends on how you think about it)

Web writing is like print …Web writing is like print …

“…Although electronic writing requires that authors learn new technologies, incorporate new interactive techniques, and gain expertise in design-related issues of presentation, the conventions and traditions of print are still the touchstone.”“The Effects of Computers on Traditional Writing,” S.P. Ferris, The

Journal of Electronic Publishing, retrieved: Sept. 16, 2002: http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/08-01/ferris.html

“…Although electronic writing requires that authors learn new technologies, incorporate new interactive techniques, and gain expertise in design-related issues of presentation, the conventions and traditions of print are still the touchstone.”“The Effects of Computers on Traditional Writing,” S.P. Ferris, The

Journal of Electronic Publishing, retrieved: Sept. 16, 2002: http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/08-01/ferris.html

… But it is also like oral communications

… But it is also like oral communications

“Perhaps scholars should base their views of electronic writing on an oral metaphor because the computer is an interpersonal medium. E-mail, mailing lists, discussion groups, and chat rooms use text, but they model themselves on conversation.”

“The Effects of Computers on Traditional Writing,” S.P. Ferris, The Journal of Electronic Publishing, retrieved: Sept. 16, 2002: http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/08-01/ferris.html

“Perhaps scholars should base their views of electronic writing on an oral metaphor because the computer is an interpersonal medium. E-mail, mailing lists, discussion groups, and chat rooms use text, but they model themselves on conversation.”

“The Effects of Computers on Traditional Writing,” S.P. Ferris, The Journal of Electronic Publishing, retrieved: Sept. 16, 2002: http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/08-01/ferris.html

Oral communication characteristics

Oral communication characteristics

Immediacy To convey emotion, rather than

just information Extra-textual content Development of community Non-linear Abbreviations, incorrect grammar,

shortened/fragmented sentences

Immediacy To convey emotion, rather than

just information Extra-textual content Development of community Non-linear Abbreviations, incorrect grammar,

shortened/fragmented sentences

Why people read Web sites

Why people read Web sites

Functions of computer-mediated communication

(CMC)

Functions of computer-mediated communication

(CMC)

Information Entertainment Transmission of Culture Social Interaction*

*this is a change from traditional media

Information Entertainment Transmission of Culture Social Interaction*

*this is a change from traditional media

Web writing and journalism

(What they have in common)

Web writing and journalism

(What they have in common) Both use short, concise writing style;

don’t waste words Both favor action verbs and active

voice; keep the text moving Both use inverted pyramid style; make

it scannable Both require accuracy and cleanliness;

typos and misspellings kill credibility

Both use short, concise writing style; don’t waste words

Both favor action verbs and active voice; keep the text moving

Both use inverted pyramid style; make it scannable

Both require accuracy and cleanliness; typos and misspellings kill credibility

How Web writing differsHow Web writing differs

Online readers are IMPATIENT; they read in a hurry.

Online readers read less Screens are harder to read and

create more eye strain Web readers want specific

information

Online readers are IMPATIENT; they read in a hurry.

Online readers read less Screens are harder to read and

create more eye strain Web readers want specific

information

A few quick tipsA few quick tips

Keep copy scannable Keep content short Keep content segment

Source: “TechnoFile: Writing Well on the Web,” Anne Stuart, Inc.com, February 2004, http://www.inc.com/articles/2004/02/webwriting.

Keep copy scannable Keep content short Keep content segment

Source: “TechnoFile: Writing Well on the Web,” Anne Stuart, Inc.com, February 2004, http://www.inc.com/articles/2004/02/webwriting.

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

Who is the founder and CEO of Twitter? What else can you tell me of interest about this person?

Two men founded Google. What are their names and what were they doing (what was their “occupation”) when they founded Google?

Who is the founder and CEO of Twitter? What else can you tell me of interest about this person?

Two men founded Google. What are their names and what were they doing (what was their “occupation”) when they founded Google?

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

What does the term “blog” stand for?

What is an “URL”? What does this term stand for?

In what decade did research on the Internet begin and in what country?

What is Linkedin?

What does the term “blog” stand for?

What is an “URL”? What does this term stand for?

In what decade did research on the Internet begin and in what country?

What is Linkedin?

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

On Facebook, you have “friends.” What do you have on Twitter? On Linkedin?

What is the maximum length of a message on Twitter?

What is a wiki? What is the best-known wiki?

On Facebook, you have “friends.” What do you have on Twitter? On Linkedin?

What is the maximum length of a message on Twitter?

What is a wiki? What is the best-known wiki?

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media

How is a blog different from a Web site?

Who founded Facebook? What else was he/she doing at the time?

How many members does Facebook have?

How is a blog different from a Web site?

Who founded Facebook? What else was he/she doing at the time?

How many members does Facebook have?

For next weekFor next week

For 1/19/10: Read the blog post, “How Social Media Has Changed Us,” (1/14/10) and post a comment with your reaction to the article on the course blog. Please post your comment no later than an hour prior to class time next Tuesday.

For 1/21/10: Twitter

For 1/19/10: Read the blog post, “How Social Media Has Changed Us,” (1/14/10) and post a comment with your reaction to the article on the course blog. Please post your comment no later than an hour prior to class time next Tuesday.

For 1/21/10: Twitter