Knock, knock: Online news preparation & delivery #2
J. Klein, University of Southern Queensland
The digital age of news has since attracted its own pitfalls when it comes to the preparation and delivery of modern content demands.
With so many vast platforms delivering news to consumers, attracting audience engagement seems a digital journalists’ highest priority.
Paul Bradshaw’s (2017) BASIC principles — brevity, adaptability, scannability, interactivity and community/communication — for writing online highlight the importance of understanding who you’re writing for. Adaptability and scannability are (arguably) the focus principals for a digital journalist.
‘Click bait’ news platforms loiter on web pages like the antagonist they are — this where Bradshaw’s concept of ‘adaptability’ comes into play. If we can’t be anything other than adaptable in a world of online news, journalism in this environment could not successfully survive.
To get into the specifics of search engine optimisation (SEO) would be equally as enlightening as to stare at a wall of wet paint. However, in reference to the importance of a stories’ scannability — there’s really only one factor which matters, and that is — key words. A continuing message within your story is all the optimising a digital journalist should need.
