Intro to Writing for Electronic Delivery JMC 239

Intro to Writing for Electronic Delivery JMC 239 Abilene Christian University

Terms to know s s s s Computer mediated communication (CMC) Internet and intranet Blogs Posts Micro-blogs (Twitter) Social media (Facebook, Myspace) Consumer-generated video (You. Tube)

Terms to know s s s s 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)

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

… 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

Oral communication characteristics s Immediacy s To convey emotion, rather than just information s Extra-textual content s Development of community s Non-linear s Abbreviations, incorrect grammar, shortened/fragmented sentences

Why people read Web sites

Functions of computermediated communication (CMC) s s Information Entertainment Transmission of Culture Social Interaction* *this is a change from traditional media

Web writing and journalism (What they have in common) s Both use short, concise writing style; don’t waste words s Both favor action verbs and active voice; keep the text moving s Both use inverted pyramid style; make it scannable s Both require accuracy and cleanliness; typos and misspellings kill credibility

How Web writing differs s Online readers are IMPATIENT; they read in a hurry. s Online readers read less s Screens are harder to read and create more eye strain s Web readers want specific information

A few quick tips s Keep copy scannable s Keep content short s Keep content segment Source: “Techno. File: 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 s Who is the founder and CEO of Twitter? What else can you tell me of interest about this person? s 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 s What does the term “blog” stand for? s What is an “URL”? What does this term stand for? s In what decade did research on the Internet begin and in what country? s What is Linkedin?

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media s On Facebook, you have “friends. ” What do you have on Twitter? On Linkedin? s What is the maximum length of a message on Twitter? s What is a wiki? What is the best-known wiki?

Let’s learn about the Internet and social media s How is a blog different from a Web site? s Who founded Facebook? What else was he/she doing at the time? s How many members does Facebook have?

For next week s 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. s For 1/21/10: Twitter