Web Based Digital Media for College Writing Students

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Writing

When writing for the digital media, the author is not just the writer, but also the publisher, the editor, the graphic designer, and the marketer. Therefore when writing for the digital media, there are more mechanics that the author needs to consider than when writing for traditional publishing where usually the sole job of the author is to write. Issues that might usually be the concern of an editor or proofreader-if the writing is good, identification, and expertise-must be the concern of the author.

Good Writing

When writing for any type of media, whether it be traditional print or online, there is generally a basic standard the writer must adhere to; that is if the writer wants people to read. In web based digital media, “good writing” has a typically higher standard than traditional print. That standard varies depending on what is being written about; however, no matter the standard, the most important thing to keep in mind for all good writing is to keep the readers interested. That starts from the moment a potential reader clicks on the page to the end of the article.

Identification

In order to better address the interests, concerns, and questions of the audience, writing should focus on a small targeted community.

Expertise

Consistent navigation and attractive design

Layout

Layout is the visual and technical aspect of web based writing. The site's design must include high-quality images. Personal web pages and sites must also be easily usable and include contact information that is accessible on each page. Not only does site layout include visual elements, it also involves the navigation bar used to travel through the website, the headers and footers used for scanability, and the references supplied by links and other relevance support.

Design

The design of a webpage's layout is very important when writing for the web. In digital writing, design pertains to the look of the website and arrangement of the text, graphics, and other objects that make up the site. A website's design must be consistent, usable, and navigable.

Photos

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Photos assist in providing information to the audience visually. Photos play a huge part in attracting readers, and unprofessional or broken photos can result in loss of credibility for the site and site owner. FIle formats in photos differ, typically falling into categories such as:

• GIF
• JPEG
• PNG
• BMP

Contact

Contact information should be included on every page of a website because it suggests credibility and accountability. When including contact information in a website, navigation should always be considered. There must be a clear way of obtaining contact information from each page. Student's can include contact information by creating a separate page and including the page in the main menu, or at the bottom of each page. Contact information should incorporate:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Business telephone number (if applicable)
• Business address (if applicable)

If students are not willing to display their contact information, contact forms should be included. Students can also include links to their Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, and/or Wordpress, which are other means of contact through social media websites.

Usability

Keeping the web page scannable and redundant will help with how well a user understands the points given. By using links and being consistent, the writer is adding to the overall use of the site.

Scanability

Scanability is one of the of the key tools to online layout. "Web users scan content rather than reading word for word. Scanners need clues, signposts and highlights, so content should be shaped for scanning. "

• Headlines
  • Subheads
• Links
• Font
  • size
  • color
• Image/Graphic

Relevance and Support

When upper-level college students are writing for the web having relevant sources and links are essential to the credibility of the page. Linking to outside sources that are knowledgeable in the area can improve the direction of the webpage, and show expertise. When not following these guidelines by linking to certain sources, and content not relevant to the topic the site will lose credibility.

Digital and Social Media

Digital and social media sites are changing the way that we interact with the world both professionally and personally. Sites like Linkedin, VisualCV, and About Me allow users to create a professional online presence. Social media sites like Twitter and blogging websites like Wordpress and Blogger, allow users to add a personality and perspective to their professional presence on the web.

Platforms that support professional presence, personality, and perspective include:

• Linkedin
• VisualCV
• About Me
• Twitter
• Wordpress/Blogger

See Also

• Writing for Digital Media

• The Department of Media, Culture, and the Arts

• Macon State College

References

1. Carrol, Brian. (2010). "Writing for Digital Media". New York: Routledge. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.
2. webitRabbit. (2012). "Basic Website Layout". Orange County, California:LLC. Image. Retrieved 26 Nov 2012.