INTERNET LECTURE

1. INTERNET LECTURE Using the Web as a tool Convergence Reading and Writing for online

2. The Internet • Go to www.snopes.com for the hottest Web outrages. • Call up a Google search screen and enter your phone number • Call up two browser windows. In one, go to www.gatt.org in the other, go to www.wto.org

3. The print business model Giving away your product for free in one venue while charging for it in another doesn’t exactly come across as a sound business plan. Yet that is the way print mediums have been operating for years. Will it continue? Unlikely. Already many newspapers are charging for “premium content” or archival access. But with new devices like Kindle starting to impact the book / textbook market, how will print adapt?

4. Can print survive???? Michael Crichton’s April 1993 address to the National Press Club. The “Jurassic Park” author told news executives that they were becoming dinosaurs and said print news would be gone within 10 years.

5. The Internet Well, we are several years past Crichton’s deadline on the print medium becoming a dinosaur. It certainly hasn’t gone, but it certainly has changed. More and more print (and broadcast) mediums are evolving into media platforms, integrating an online product with their standard fare. The online medium offers the reader/user more variety – a story can combine text, photo galleries, animated graphics, video, audio, blogs, links to related items etc. – and control over navigation. Go to www.chron.com/sports/astros Go to www.chron.com/houstongardening

6. Some Internet facts and figures • By 2003 (depending on your source), about 71 percent of American households had at least one computer. It was projected that for 2007, that figure would rise to 78 percent (88.7 million households) • That compares to 22.8 percent in 1993. • The Newspaper Association of America reports that by 2004 the U.S. Internet audience had grown to 174 million users (vs. households). Internet World Stats says that figure has grown to about 212 million by July 2007 – about 70 percent of the U.S. population.

7. Impact on newspapers • Most printed newspapers' circulations and readerships meanwhile continue their steady 40-year declines. More than 80 percent of American adults read a newspaper each weekday in 1964, but only 58 percent did in 1997, according to the Newspaper Association of America. • In 2003, an estimated 54 percent read a newspaper each weekday. Most analysts predict that fewer than half of adults will read the paper every day by the end of this decade. • Many print mediums are gravitating toward circulation / readership-based revenue streams rather than advertising-based streams. The next slide explains why.

8. Impact on newspapers • Advertising sales revenue, the main source of newspaper income, has declined year-over-year for 13 straight quarters. The slump already has killed some newspapers and wiped out thousands of jobs across the country. Through the first nine months of the year, newspaper ad revenue plunged 28 percent to $19.9 billion. U.S. newspapers’ annual ad sales are on pace to fall below $30 billion for the first time since 1987. • Newspapers have been trying to offset some of the erosion by raising the prices charged to their readers. The New York Times ended up getting more money from readers than advertisers during the third quarter, a rarity in an industry where circulation typically accounts for just 20 percent of the revenue. But the higher prices are contributing to steep declines in paid circulation. The average weekday circulation among 379 U.S. newspapers fell 10.6 percent during the six months ending in September. • Internet advertising revenue grew 18.8 percent in 2007 to $3.17 billion, but slowed from the 2006 pace of 31.5 percent. The result was also the slowest growth for online newspaper ads since the association began counting in 2003.

9. Advantages (Besides not killing as many trees) • Offers immediacy like broadcast. An end run on FCC rules? • Online stories can be updated continually; print / broadcast stories less easily so because of their deadlines • Few if any space limitations, unlike print mediums • Online type is generally larger, or reader can adjust it • Fewer production costs -- no presses, composing rooms and their employees • No circulation hassles, unless the server goes down • It’s often democratic and interactive (the latter is a key word to remember)

10. Disadvantages • Access is confined to those with access to a computer. This creates a stratified society of computer haves and have nots. • It costs more to gain access to the medium. • Users are a slave to the server speed. The monitor screen is a smaller “palette” to view some content (photos). • Not (quite) as portable as print product – yet. • The cyberspace market is still somewhat volatile; advertisers as a whole are not yet completely trustful of the medium. But film industry often skips print to exclusively use the Web. • The search for information is often in a narrow scope, limiting the discovery of news outside the search framework. The scatter-shoot approach of print can deal surprises. • Too much unvetted information. One critic calls it “an electronic bathroom wall.”

11. A reporter’s tool

12. A reporter’s tool With more government and business data being stored electronically, the Internet is a wonderful tool for gathering information. Billions of bits of information are right there at your fingertips. Still, navigating the Internet can be tricky or a bit time-consuming. Google is a great search engine, but you should know that some folks pay for higher placement -- the link that pops up first on a search may not be the best one for your needs. Also, resource sites like Wikipedia allow the entries to be edited / rewrittenby the subject instead of a Wikipedia “editor.” TIP: When researching a person (living or dead) for a story, check to see if they have a MySpace or similar page. Those pages can provide much insight/info on the subject – the Columbine shooters for example. (Be aware that prospective employers often do the same type of vetting!)

13. A reporter’s tool HELPFUL LINKS Databases of Databases Handy Dandy Web Guide More Helpful Links

14. A reporter’s tool • Be aware that you will likely have to comport the information you glean to AP style and check all spellings. Also, be aware that information on the Web, particularly news sites, is being updated and corrected frequently. That body count figure you obtained at 11 a.m. may not be correct at 5 p.m. How do you handle corrections online? • Remember to attribute all information you obtain from the Web. Also, if you conduct an interview via email (thus allowing the subject to put their answers in a likely more thoughtful vs. off-the-cuff form), you should tell the reader that.

15. How much can you trust? … of course, some folks apparently like it that way: i just think its funny y0utubers d0nt like t0 be lied t0 but h0nest pe0ple are really n0t that interesting...think ab0ut it..its the internet. n0t life.. -- comment by sleezefrom760 about the lonelygirl15 videos (underlining is mine)

16. Credibility issues As access to the Internet grows, so does the need for credibility. Generally, more people still trust print over online content. A number of Web sites – like www.snopes.com -- have been created simply to debunk Internet myths and rumors. Much of the material passed along the Net doesn’t even receive a routine copy editing and thus is rife with misspellings and factual errors. Some are carelessness and some are intentional deception, like the GATT site. Credibility and trust issues are perhaps the biggest issues facing information seekers and providers on the Internet. Unfortunately, many people have not yet learned how to separate the message from the messenger. And, for the time being, the government is content to let the online industry regulate itself (except for spam and piracy issues). So who will be the toll keepers on the cyber superhighway? You will.

17. Guidelines: What to trust? Bob Steele of the Poynter Institute provides these protocols for trusting online information: No discussion needed • Online information has gone through an editing process where a standard of reliability can be assumed • Verbatim texts, or speeches or documents from properly cited original sources

18. Guidelines: What to trust? Discussion (by yourself or with others) recommended • Online information was gathered by a generally reliable news outlet but was NOT published or broadcast previously because of space or time constraints. • Archival materials or original documents that have been altered or shortened to fit the online format Discussion required • Information found online has not gone through any editing process, or at least one equal to the standards of a reliable news outlet (blogs, YouTube would be a good examples). • Databases can become outdated and thus misleading. Be sure to check the creation date of material you are citing.

19. Convergence of skills • On the first day of class, you learned of trend toward convergence, where more and more mediums are asking their news gatherers to have a combination of skills. The reporters have to write for more than one medium, even under the same company umbrella. You may need a digital (video) camera and a digital tape recorder to secure audio. • Convergence also applies to stories: the text may be just one part of a multimedia package. Few readers prefer shovelware. To stay viable in today’s media market, it’s likely that you will need to be versed in text, audio, video and interactivity -- and how to fit your message to the various platforms available. • For tips on Web coding, you can find tutorials at http://www.werbach.com/barebonesor http://www.webmonkey.com

20. Convergence of skills Your textbook quotes digital news pioneer Jonathan Dube as recommending that you use: print to explain, multimedia to show and interactive to demonstrate and engage. Multimedia options: Video, audio, webcams / webcasts, podcasts / vodcasts, animated graphics http://blogs.chron.com/nickanderson/archives/animation/ Interactive options: Live chats, push technology, reader feedback / comments, online polls and quizzes, downloads Story links: previous stories and visuals, other Web sites, groups to contact, opinion pieces, transcripts, etc.

21. Reading and writing online At least 49 percent of U.S. teenagers read a newspaper Web site at least once a week; 44 percent read a printed newspaper at least once a week From Presstime magazine, March 2009

23. Reading and writing online • One of the components of good writing is efficiency. You are going to have to write more tightly than ever before. The IP is still your friend. Your story (or stories!) will have to fit on the screens of cell phones, iPods, PDAs. BlackBerrys, whatever. Few people will want to read your 50,000-word opus on a cell phone screen. As in print, the foundation of good online writing is good, solid reporting. • At some point, you may be called upon to write an online interactive Web log, or blog. These online columns are a wonderful for interacting with readers; beware, though, about using blog material as a source. Blogs are generally opinion, not fact. Always check!

24. Reading and writing online According to some experts, reading online is 25 percent slower that reading a paper product. There can be a lot of distractions, and how fast you scroll and how fast your server reacts are additional factors. You also have to deal with the impatience of the online users. The computer screen may allow for bigger type, but that means a lot of scrolling, around ads, photos and other distractions. Some folks have gone scientific in their studies of how we read online ... Eye-trackers – that’s the gizmo on the woman’s head – indicate that most people enter a Web page from the upper left. Also, text is superior to graphics – a direct opposite of the printed page where the dominant visual holds sway. For more:www.poynterextra.org/et/i.htm

25. Reading and writing online Structure is everything: The online story might appear to be swimming in chaos -- surrounded by other links, photos, ads etc. -- so it’s up to the writer to help keep the reader on a logical path. Leads become more important – they could be the first link to the story or all that is read. The online writer also provides information in greater detail and support than the print writer. Online information is provided in layers: • The first layer is that which is immediately available to the reader and requires no action on their part. • The second layer requires minimal action by the reader, such as moving the cursor or scrolling. Perhaps moving the cursor to a photo brings up an info box / cutline. • The third layer requires the reader to click on a link that opens up still more information, or perhaps takes them to a video or audio link. This is often called “threading.”

26. Layering and headlines Here’s a good rule of thumb for layering a story: A professor at the University of Missouri requires his students to follow what he calls the “3-2-2-1” format. Break up the copy with 3 subheads (putting the story in four pieces), 2 internal links (tied to text within the story), 2 external links (links to outside sites found to the left of the story or at the bottom) and 1 piece of art not available in the print edition. Note that you also may have to become a headline writer and be cognizant of Web optimization techniques that favor putting key search words in headlines instead of creative approaches. Here is a helpful link: http://access.newsu.org/index.php?v=2&id=159

27. Online writing tips 1. Think immediacy-- Try to be first but always be accurate 2. Save readers’ time-- Best way to do that is to be clear. Choose the simple word. Write short paragraphs. Long live the inverted pyramid. A recent Eyetrack study showed that stories with short paragraphs received twice the attention as stories with long paragraphs. (College prof’s assignment for best mystery with religion and sex) 3. Think both verbally and visually. The Internet is a visual medium, so you have to think about graphics, photos, info boxes, subheads. 4. Use lots of lists and bullets-- This is a good way to combine No. 2 and No. 3. Plus, people just seem to love lists, and they have been pre-conditioned to the use of bullets.

28. Online writing tips 5. Remember to use hyperlinks-- This is essential to layering. You don’t have to put everything in your story; you can direct the reader to background info, sidebars, photos etc. with hyperlinks 6. Give readers a chance to talk back-- Let the reader become a participant with the story. They can react and give feedback. Chronicle stories have the writer’s email addresses tacked on at the end. 7. Don’t forget the human touch-- Facts are just facts unless you relate them to people. What will make someone keep scrolling? See the “As We May Write” and “How Do We Read Online” articles

29. Blogging: A noun and a verb “Blog” is derived from the term “Web log.” It’s basically an online diary or opinion piece and a clear derivation from the inverted pyramid template. They are used by news sites as supplementary coverage or to give a platform to those with expertise on some subjects. The Chronicle, which has been recognized for its variety and number of staff and reader blogs, even blogs from live sports events. How you say what you want to say is still important, but what you have to say is the selling point. The best blogs are those with a bit of an edge. They give the reader a true reason to tune. Keep it short: The length should be in the 250-300 word range. Go to chron.com/blogs

30. Twitter One of the latest social mediums is Twitter. It is often used for breaking news or as a minute-to-minute diary of the activities of you or those you are “following.” Twitter “tweets” can be casual ruminations or breaking news alerts sent to and from computers or mobile devices. Companies are using Twitter as well as a PR tool for various announcements, updates etc.. It is limited to 140 characters, including spaces. Breaking news is often given in the incomplete sentence, pidgin English style of headlines. See www.twitter.com Extra credit exercise available

31. Blogging tips • Make your opinion knownPeople like blogs, they like blogs because they are written by people and not corporations. People want to know what people think, crazy as it sounds they want to know what you think. Tell them exactly what you think using the least amount of words possible. • Link like crazy.Support your post with links to other web pages that are contextual to your post. • Write lessGive the maximum amount of information with the least amount of words. Time is finite and people are infinitely busy. Blast your knowledge into the reader at the speed of sound. • 250 is enoughA long post is easier to forget and harder to get into. A short post is the opposite.

32. Blogging tips • Make headlines snappyContain your whole argument in your headline. Check out National newspapers to see how they do it. • Include bullet point listsWe all love lists, it structures the info in an easily digestible format. • Make your posts easy to scanEvery few paragraphs insert a sub heading. Make sentences and headlines short and to the point. • Be consistent with your stylePeople like to know what to expect, once you have settled on a style for your audience stick to it.

33. Blogging tips • Litter the post with keywordsYou want to be found, right? Think about what keywords people would use to search for your post and include them in the body text and headers. Make sure the keyword placement is natural. • Edit your postGood writing is in the editing. Before you hit the submit button, re-read your post and cut out the stuff that you don’t need. • Write with a passion Blogs are not the inverted pyramid. Let your emotions show. If you are outraged, show your outrage. If you are rolling in the aisles, tell the reader why.

34. In the end … • Be aware that convergence in this communications medium may require more collaboration and coordination than on stories for other mediums. Yes, a variety of editors may be involved as well – but it’s your story. You need to play your role as part of the team. • Take a look at the online package planning guide. What could we have done to jazz up the “Andy Kahan” story for online?

36. Helpful Links • The Web and the Future of Writing http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=14501 • Enjoy the Ride While it Lasts http://archives.cjr.org/year/00/2/houston.asp