WDM Fall 2012 Proposal

Introduction

In NMAC 3108, Writing for Digital Media, students explore the ways to write for websites, blogs, and other forms of digital media. Digital media is defined as different platforms through which people communicate electronically.

With the advent of e-readers, iPads, and other innovations of the Digital Age, it is important that students prepare themselves for the specific writing style necessary to successfully write for various forms of digital media.

Motivation

This project will demonstrate to students how to write effectively for the screen. This topic is important because not only is the nature of writing evolving, but in an ever-increasing technological society, it is crucial to be able to communicate with efficiency. Specifically, the issue of communication among students is interesting because social connections are necessary in the current technology-based world. These issues can be solved by the ability to proficiently utilize socially based networks as well as other digital writing mediums. Ideally, student-based environments that employ good writing can communicate optimally and connect in resourceful ways.

Project Details

1. Contact
   1. Social Media
      1. Twitter
      2. About Me
   2. Visual CV and Linked In
2. Writing
   1. Good Writing
   2. Identification
3. Layout
   1. Design
   2. Graphics
   3. Navigation
   4. Scanability
   5. Usability
   6. Relevance and Support

-Contact (Sarah Joiner):

• Credibility
• Accountability
• Types of contact

-Design (Rebecca Lynch)

• Must be consistent visually
• User-friendly

-Expertise (Josh Hager)

-Good Writing (Hollidae Strozier)

-Identification (Savannah McDaniel)

• A key communication concept
• Forms trust from the readers

-Graphics (Brandon Fluellen)

-Navigation/Usability (Katie Nix)

-Relevance/Support (Steven Lewis)

• Dates on every page
• Information must be supported by outside Web sites
• Content links
  • Links need to be relevant

-Scanability (Victoria Masa)

• Visually formatting information online
• Using headers and subheads and links

-Twitter

• Leslie Smith will discuss Twitter as an example of what writing for digital media entails because it allows users to write briefly and concisely in the form of a 140 character tweet.
• Tara Scroggins will highlight the use of hashtags and their importance to connect similar material on the site.

-About.me (Amelia Hall):

• Simple
• Scannable
• Easy to use

-Wordpress (Katie Hotchkiss)

• Very interactive
• Easy to customize

-Visual CV (Lily Billingsley)

• Online visual resume that includes:
  • All the aspects of a traditional resume
  • Add-ons to digital portfolio, links, images, and video.

-Linkedln (Emily Allmond)

• Professional online network of resumes

Timeline

• Individual Submission due 11/05/12
• Individual Submission Workshop 11/07/12
• Final Individual Submission 11/19/12
• Group Submission due 11/26/12
• Group Submission Workshop 11/28/12
• Final Group Discussion and Revision 12/03/12
• Final Wiki Project due 12/05/12

Conclusion

Social media sites like Twitter, "About Me" pages, and online resume sites like Visual CV create an opportunity to facilitate better writing. Proper navigation, contact information, good writing, usability, relevant links, support, and a strong identification are necessary in order to exhibit professionalism when writing for the digital age.

A site made with these key elements in mind ensures credible writing directed towards the appropriate audience. Design, graphics, and scan-ability are vital to the process of writing for the screen. Paying close attention to these elements creates a visually appealing work of web writing that will attract readers.

References

1. Carrol, Brian. (2010). "Writing for Digital Media". New York: Routledge. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.
2. ICFJ Anywhere. (25 July 2012). "Five Basic Writing Tips for Digital Media". International Journalist's Network. DC:ICFJ. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.
3. Lawrence, Dr. Ramon. (2011). “Guide For Writing Project Proposals”. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.
4. Lynch, Patrick J., Horton, Sarah. (2009). “Web Style Guide Online, 3rd Edition”. Web Style Guide. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.