Writing for a web-based audience is a major part of journalism today. Writing for the web requires an extra set of skills that are not necessary for the traditional newspaper and magazine writing approach.
Bethany Keeley, a PhD graduate student at the University of Georgia is a contributing writer for ThinkChristian and authors the popular "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks. Keeley said that her approaches for post writing differ greatly between the two blogs.
With ThinkChristian, Keeley posts about a topic and how her Christian values relate to it or how she interprets the topic through the lens of her Christian values. However, on Unnecessary Quotes, Keeley's focus is on making snarky comments placed under picutres of signs with humorous punctuation errors.
Unnecessary Quotes appeals to a specifc audience because its content is "absurdly specific" said Keeley. On a regular weekday Unnecessary Quotes gets between 3000-4000 hits a day. The blog's popularity has lead to multiple interviews, including one with AP.
Keeley said she dislikes how the interviews and stories make her appear angry at the punctuation errors, which is not the case. "I don't want to be a grammar guru, I don't want to be a punctutation guru. I care about funny," said Keeley.
Keeley's advice to bloggers and web writers is to remember to keep it brief and concise because "people don't want to read something long." She also recommends blogging about something that interests or humors you, it will make it more fun for yourself and your readers.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Writing for the Web
As the mediums of receiving information have changed, so too have the ways in which journalist write the news. Bethany Keeley, a blogger and PhD. student at the University of Georgia, discussed the new methods of news writing to a journalism class in the Grady College Wed., and advised the students to "Be brief. No one wants to read long things on the internet."
Currently, Keeley posts to several blogs, including a personal blog, which she began in 2002. Her humorous site, unnecessaryquotes.com, is her primary source of fame. Last week, Keeley was hired by a Christian blog to post her thoughts.
Keeley has created a brand out of her blog. She started it in 2005 after she saw a friend begin a successful humorous blog. "I started my blog to have fun. I wanted to be cool, but you can't say that, because then you won't be," laughed Keeley. Her site now generates a revenue of about $200 per month. On an average day, the site receives about 2000 hits. Based on site tracking information, Keeley said that most hits occur during the workday.
While speaking, Keeley emphasized the point that the audience is very specific, in addition to her topic. There are not many blogs about quotation marks.
Also agreeing with Keeley is Morgan Josey Glover, a blogger for a site on greener living. Glover, in an audio interview, mentioned niche audiences. Her site's content is specialized for the audience, so it must appeal to them. "You have to let people know what's out there," said Glover. She also advised the Grady students to know not only how to write, but also how to know other techniques, like online journalism and video reporting.
While neither Keeley nor Glover mentioned it, it became apparent that the key element to blogging to an audience is an interest in the topic chosen. As Keeley said, "If you've got a schtick that works, stick with it!"
Currently, Keeley posts to several blogs, including a personal blog, which she began in 2002. Her humorous site, unnecessaryquotes.com, is her primary source of fame. Last week, Keeley was hired by a Christian blog to post her thoughts.
Keeley has created a brand out of her blog. She started it in 2005 after she saw a friend begin a successful humorous blog. "I started my blog to have fun. I wanted to be cool, but you can't say that, because then you won't be," laughed Keeley. Her site now generates a revenue of about $200 per month. On an average day, the site receives about 2000 hits. Based on site tracking information, Keeley said that most hits occur during the workday.
While speaking, Keeley emphasized the point that the audience is very specific, in addition to her topic. There are not many blogs about quotation marks.
Also agreeing with Keeley is Morgan Josey Glover, a blogger for a site on greener living. Glover, in an audio interview, mentioned niche audiences. Her site's content is specialized for the audience, so it must appeal to them. "You have to let people know what's out there," said Glover. She also advised the Grady students to know not only how to write, but also how to know other techniques, like online journalism and video reporting.
While neither Keeley nor Glover mentioned it, it became apparent that the key element to blogging to an audience is an interest in the topic chosen. As Keeley said, "If you've got a schtick that works, stick with it!"
Writing Blogs for the Web
The world wide web has been a main focus in today's society. It is possible to buy groceries online, make phone calls through the web, and look up recipes with the click of a mouse. One major change that the internet has brought about is that of blogging.
Blogging is a new type of writing that has become very popular, however it is not the same as reporting. Morgan Josey Glover, who is a blogger for the GoGreenTriad, says that there is a different approach to blogging. Blogs are opinionated, which is completely different than a typical news story. They are also shorter, "anywhere from 1-7 paragraphs," Glover said.
Bethany Keeley, creator and sole blogger for unnecessaryquotes.com as well as a blogger on http://thinkchristian.blogspot.com/ , spends a couples of hours a day just on blogs. "I blog more than I think," she said. Keeley also feels that blogs are not supposed to be a news story, but so much more. She links her blogs to news stories, but believes her blogs should contain her opinion. "I believe blogs are supposed to be commentary," Keeley said.
Blogs are also different from news stories, because the audience for blogs changes dramatically. Glover would agree that her audience for GoGreenTriad has people from different backgrounds, different opinions, and different approaches, but overall they care about the environment. Keeley's audience for unnecessaryquotes.com is a little different. Her audience is just looking for humor. "The picture, witty comment genre is really popular, so if you can combine those, you will do well," Keeley said about today's society. Because of this, it has made Keeley's blog incredibly popular.
Keeley agrees that not every blog online is as popular as hers. "The blog of unnecessary quotation marks is so specific, and this is the reason that it is so popular," she said.
Blogging is a new type of writing that has become very popular, however it is not the same as reporting. Morgan Josey Glover, who is a blogger for the GoGreenTriad, says that there is a different approach to blogging. Blogs are opinionated, which is completely different than a typical news story. They are also shorter, "anywhere from 1-7 paragraphs," Glover said.
Bethany Keeley, creator and sole blogger for unnecessaryquotes.com as well as a blogger on http://thinkchristian.blogspot.com/ , spends a couples of hours a day just on blogs. "I blog more than I think," she said. Keeley also feels that blogs are not supposed to be a news story, but so much more. She links her blogs to news stories, but believes her blogs should contain her opinion. "I believe blogs are supposed to be commentary," Keeley said.
Blogs are also different from news stories, because the audience for blogs changes dramatically. Glover would agree that her audience for GoGreenTriad has people from different backgrounds, different opinions, and different approaches, but overall they care about the environment. Keeley's audience for unnecessaryquotes.com is a little different. Her audience is just looking for humor. "The picture, witty comment genre is really popular, so if you can combine those, you will do well," Keeley said about today's society. Because of this, it has made Keeley's blog incredibly popular.
Keeley agrees that not every blog online is as popular as hers. "The blog of unnecessary quotation marks is so specific, and this is the reason that it is so popular," she said.
The Changing Face of Journalism
The internet has taken mainstream journalism to the next level. With additions of social networking websites such as twitter, blogs, and facebook, news is being reported faster than ever.
According to Morgan Josey Glover, the content manager for gogreentriad, blogging is not always about reporting the new information. It is about informing an audience that the information is out there, and linking them to the news source.
"I will let people know that the information is out there, then they can follow up with the news themselves," Glover said.
Articles found on the internet are typically shorter and to the point. The articles can be anywhere from a few sentences to several paragraphs. No matter what length, the purpose is to lead people to information that is already on the web.
"Blogging is more like a users guide for information rather than strictly a news article," Glover said.
HTML links are helpful with this purpose, linking the reader to what other people are thinking about and where the blogger is getting the information from.
Through blogging, Glover is able to focus on a niche of energy efficiency and a "go green" attitude.
"Mainstream journalism has people from different political backgrounds and there is a lot of disagreement about a lot of issues, but with blogging you have more of a focal group," Glover said.
Current news headlines are not always the topics of blogs, however.
PhD student Bethany Kelley currently has three blogs. Her main blog is called The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks. Blogging on this website has a more comical and entertaining approach than other news outlets.
Although she gets paid for the posts on her blog, she hardly feels like she is working when she blogs. This is an element of new media that has changed from print newspapers.
According to Kelley, blogging is more editorial than mainstream. "I see blogging as a reactive medium to connect back to the main source," she said.
Blogging, along with other new media outlets,
According to Morgan Josey Glover, the content manager for gogreentriad, blogging is not always about reporting the new information. It is about informing an audience that the information is out there, and linking them to the news source.
"I will let people know that the information is out there, then they can follow up with the news themselves," Glover said.
Articles found on the internet are typically shorter and to the point. The articles can be anywhere from a few sentences to several paragraphs. No matter what length, the purpose is to lead people to information that is already on the web.
"Blogging is more like a users guide for information rather than strictly a news article," Glover said.
HTML links are helpful with this purpose, linking the reader to what other people are thinking about and where the blogger is getting the information from.
Through blogging, Glover is able to focus on a niche of energy efficiency and a "go green" attitude.
"Mainstream journalism has people from different political backgrounds and there is a lot of disagreement about a lot of issues, but with blogging you have more of a focal group," Glover said.
Current news headlines are not always the topics of blogs, however.
PhD student Bethany Kelley currently has three blogs. Her main blog is called The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks. Blogging on this website has a more comical and entertaining approach than other news outlets.
Although she gets paid for the posts on her blog, she hardly feels like she is working when she blogs. This is an element of new media that has changed from print newspapers.
According to Kelley, blogging is more editorial than mainstream. "I see blogging as a reactive medium to connect back to the main source," she said.
Blogging, along with other new media outlets,
Bloggers Advice for Writing for the Internet
Any practitioner of the journalism field will tell you Bob Dylan was right when he sang, "The times they are a-changing." For journalists, this change is from print to Internet. Writing for the Internet, via blogging, online reporting, tweeting, and the like are forcing journalists to do more. "Today, it's not enough to just write for a newspaper," GoGreenTriad.com writer Morgan Josey Glover said to a reporter on Wednesday. It is also important to know how to edit audio, use social networking tools, and blog. Even people outside of the journalism world are turning to blogs to comment on the world around them.
Bethany Keeley a student at the University of Georgia writes a popular blog about the misuse of quotation marks called unecessaryquotes.com. Currently earning her Ph.D., Bethany said, "Blogging is my side job. My full job is being a scholar." While that may be true, Bethany's blog averages 4000 hits daily, and she has been interviewed by MSNBC, BBC4, and was covered in the article by the Associated Press, which was run in newspapers all over the country.
While Bethany herself is not a journalist, she still has sound advice for writing for the internet. "When you write for the internet being brief is important. Get to the point have your short joke or coverage about the thing," Bethany said.
Besides the brevity of internet writing, which is helpful for graduate students with little time on their hands, another great thing about internet writing is the ability to link. Linking allows for writers to show the reader exactly what they are talking about. Linking can also create cross-traffic between related sites. On Bethany's blog, she said that she links to other blogs with material that readers who like her blog will also find interesting. She mentioned linking to cakewrecks.com, a similarly themed website featuring funny pictures with snarky comments.
Morgan echoes Bethany's advice about writing for the internet, but from a more journalistic point of view. Morgan who has written for various newspapers with broad audiences, says that niche writing on the internet is totally different. First of all, she emphasizes the ability to post faster and without the various media gatekeepers. "As long as I'm accurate, I go ahead and put it out there," Morgan said.
Morgan also touched on the pro's of being able to link in her stories. "One of the purposes of a blog is to point people to other sources," Morgan said. On gogreentraid.com, there are many links to other green friendly websites and articles that their readers would find interesting.
All in all, while the times are changing, being prepared to write for the Internet will help you change with them.
Bethany Keeley a student at the University of Georgia writes a popular blog about the misuse of quotation marks called unecessaryquotes.com. Currently earning her Ph.D., Bethany said, "Blogging is my side job. My full job is being a scholar." While that may be true, Bethany's blog averages 4000 hits daily, and she has been interviewed by MSNBC, BBC4, and was covered in the article by the Associated Press, which was run in newspapers all over the country.
While Bethany herself is not a journalist, she still has sound advice for writing for the internet. "When you write for the internet being brief is important. Get to the point have your short joke or coverage about the thing," Bethany said.
Besides the brevity of internet writing, which is helpful for graduate students with little time on their hands, another great thing about internet writing is the ability to link. Linking allows for writers to show the reader exactly what they are talking about. Linking can also create cross-traffic between related sites. On Bethany's blog, she said that she links to other blogs with material that readers who like her blog will also find interesting. She mentioned linking to cakewrecks.com, a similarly themed website featuring funny pictures with snarky comments.
Morgan echoes Bethany's advice about writing for the internet, but from a more journalistic point of view. Morgan who has written for various newspapers with broad audiences, says that niche writing on the internet is totally different. First of all, she emphasizes the ability to post faster and without the various media gatekeepers. "As long as I'm accurate, I go ahead and put it out there," Morgan said.
Morgan also touched on the pro's of being able to link in her stories. "One of the purposes of a blog is to point people to other sources," Morgan said. On gogreentraid.com, there are many links to other green friendly websites and articles that their readers would find interesting.
All in all, while the times are changing, being prepared to write for the Internet will help you change with them.
Changing News Media: Writing for the Web
News media has evolved from print journalism toward a more Internet savvy means of distributing information.
Even veteran print journalists like Morgan Josey Glover are changing their ways by adapting to a more Web-based new media. Approximately 90 percent of what she writes is for the Web, and most of it is in real time.
Glover explains that with journalism for the Web, the public gains access to information much more quickly. In print journalism, news stories have to wait until the editor thinks the paper needs it. They may hold onto a story for a few days.
“As long as I’m providing quality information that’s accurate and not incomplete, I’m going to put it out there,” Glover, the content manager for www.gogreentriad.com, said.
Blogs are a key part of the Internet’s distribution of information.
Ph.D. student Bethany Keeley has become the brains behind one of the most popular blogs on the Web today. Though working toward a master’s degree in speech communication, Keeley’s self-described “side-hobby” can earn her up to $500 dollars a month.
Both Keeley and Glover agree on the role that blogs play in news media.
“I see blogs as a reactive medium to connect people with the original reporting,” Keeley said. She describes her blog as solely editorial based because she does not do any real reporting.
Glover agrees that one of the main purposes of a blog is to point people toward information already on the Web. When covering an event, Glover will leave a hyperlink to the organization’s Web site.
Glover and Keeley contribute very different information through their Web sites to distinct and specific audiences. However, both believe that the Internet is the future of news media.
“It’s beneficial to the reporter to get the information out as quick as possible. Knowing how to use audio and other media is more important for Web than it is for print,” Glover said. “A journalist today needs to know how to do all those things and translate the information in any way.”
You can visit Glover and Keeley’s Web sites at www.gogreentriad.com and www.unnecessaryquotes.com.
Even veteran print journalists like Morgan Josey Glover are changing their ways by adapting to a more Web-based new media. Approximately 90 percent of what she writes is for the Web, and most of it is in real time.
Glover explains that with journalism for the Web, the public gains access to information much more quickly. In print journalism, news stories have to wait until the editor thinks the paper needs it. They may hold onto a story for a few days.
“As long as I’m providing quality information that’s accurate and not incomplete, I’m going to put it out there,” Glover, the content manager for www.gogreentriad.com, said.
Blogs are a key part of the Internet’s distribution of information.
Ph.D. student Bethany Keeley has become the brains behind one of the most popular blogs on the Web today. Though working toward a master’s degree in speech communication, Keeley’s self-described “side-hobby” can earn her up to $500 dollars a month.
Both Keeley and Glover agree on the role that blogs play in news media.
“I see blogs as a reactive medium to connect people with the original reporting,” Keeley said. She describes her blog as solely editorial based because she does not do any real reporting.
Glover agrees that one of the main purposes of a blog is to point people toward information already on the Web. When covering an event, Glover will leave a hyperlink to the organization’s Web site.
Glover and Keeley contribute very different information through their Web sites to distinct and specific audiences. However, both believe that the Internet is the future of news media.
“It’s beneficial to the reporter to get the information out as quick as possible. Knowing how to use audio and other media is more important for Web than it is for print,” Glover said. “A journalist today needs to know how to do all those things and translate the information in any way.”
You can visit Glover and Keeley’s Web sites at www.gogreentriad.com and www.unnecessaryquotes.com.
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