Writing for New Media

Paul Bradshaw has another thought-provoking post in his Online Journalism blog. This time around he asks:

Have you ever been to one of those meetings where there is a lot of talking - but no action? That’s what most news websites and blogs are like at the moment. One endless meeting.

Bradshaw suggests that online journalists go beyond that to connect with readers by employing "Five W's and a H that should come *after* every story." They are:

• Who can I connect with?
  
• What did the journalist read to write this?
  
• Where did this happen?
  
• When are events coming up that I need to be aware of?
  
• Why should I care?
  
• How can I make a difference?
  

Bradshaw followed up with a mock-up on how this would work. A fascinating idea that bears serious consideration.

Labels: audience, calendars, databases, mapping, social networking

In "Be More Than a Blip in the Blogosphere," Washington Post writer Dan Zak offers 10 tips for building an audience for your blog. All are good, and No. 1 might just sound familiar:

TELL STORIES RATHER THAN STICKING SOLELY TO LINKS OR PHOTOS. "Unless you're Perez Hilton or the peeps at TMZ or the Superficial, [links and photos] won't keep people coming back," says North Bethesda resident Melissa Jordan, 42, of Church of the Big Sky ( http://www.merujo.blogspot.com). Make stories compelling and, most of all, relatable.

So what are you waiting for? You're doing the work; you might as well get the readers.

Labels: audience, blogs