The previous chapters dealt with the way new forms of journalism are coming into being through the innovative use of the internet's characteristics. However, proper use of this technology requires knowledge of certain techniques, which will be discussed in the present chapter. This will be followed by examples of the successful application of these techniques, as well as instances of failure. The chapter will end with a brief discussion of news editing practices in the online media.

Writing and Preparing Packages for the Web

Main Considerations

There are two important considerations to be kept in mind while preparing online news packages.

Is it about Written, Visual or Aural Information?

For a journalist who is required to perform the functions of a reporter or an editor for a newsoriented website, the first point to remember is that the web is neither mainly about writing as is the case with the print media, nor purely about visuals and sound, as in television.

It is, or can be, a combination of writing with various types of visual elements plus audio, and this complex mix is given yet another dimension by interactivity. As Dube notes, “Online journalists must think on multiple levels at once: words, ideas, story structure, design, interactives, audio, video, photos, news judgment. TV is about showing the news. Print is more about telling and explaining. Online is about showing, telling, demonstrating and interacting.”