28th August 2008

3 things that a web journalist must know:
1. Usability and applications
2. Web writing
3. Know your audience

Primary and secondary objectives:

News channels like NDTV, CNN IBN and newspapers like TOI etc have news websites (online editions) but those are secondary objectives. Therefore one can say that Rediff, which has an independent news website, has better news as the sole focus of rediff is on web news.

Similarly e-bulletins of NDTV etc are Part B (secondary) objectives and not Part A (primary).

(E bulletins – anything given in the form of videos (online). E.g youtube has e bulletins.)

Online editions of TV news channels are extensions of the existing channels (same for newspapers).
e.g If TOI is going to print an exclusive for the next days printing. It will not put it up on its website for fear of it being leaked.

Challenges for web contributors:
1. Should have the ability to search through millions of material published online.
2. Find such ‘ingredients’ that are of interest to everyone. Ex In TOI – Delhi times for youngsters and other sections like political news, business, cartoon strips, crosswords rtc that cater to almost every need.
( SEO – Search Engine Optimisation. The 1st 10 links that come up while searching are on the basis of usability.)
3. ‘Online’ is focused. A large no. of users are either youth or professionals. People search because of an ‘element of knowledge’ i.e. to know more and to be more knowledgeable.
General Nature of using the web (Those people use the net who want to :)
1. Know more
2. For job opportunities
3. Pursue interest ( hobbies)
Usability: two way communication or interactivity.
When we create something we should keep in mind the fact that it may not have automatic readership. If the message is clear cut then readership will be automatic.
Ex: A message saying ‘free movie tickets’ will NOT be clicked on by a majority of people as most people see it as a gimmick.

The kind of people who use the net:
1. know computers
2. Are proficient in English
3. Educated class
4. Have a background where there is an urge to know more or connect more.

Difference between :-
1. need and a necessity:
Need: doing MMM
Necessity: informing the teacher about not coming a particular day.
Need: Changing old tv to new
Necessity: Giving TV

To know more and provide more is ‘engagement’. One can’t be engaged without knowing more and providing more.
The net gives Constant interactivity – constant engagement. One person uses the others information and vice versa. Therefore these people belong to what is known as the ‘virtual community’. They are ‘engaged’ with each other.
2. Usefulness and relevance
Information is either ‘useful ‘or ‘relevant’. Useful information can be relevant but not vice versa. Eg: Knowing where UK is, is relevant. Its useful if you ever go there.
Relevant Information gives you an edge- gives knowledge to an audience you don’t know. Therefore for this audience, info should be useful and relevant.

One can write for either one – need or necessity.
Link all these while writing: 1. Need and Necessity, 2. Usefulness and relevance
While writing, provide knowledge about the material first and then add some useful information or relevant info which can be used later.
There is an ‘order of preference’. Apply it on yourself. How would you like to get information- what order etc .
The substance that one writes has to be ‘eye-catching’. The substance has to have meaning and should be out of the ordinary to catch attention. Write to catch attention. Catchy writing with no substance tends to be skipped over. Therefore only if it’s relevant and useful will it catch your attention.

Maasoom Dhillon