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As our society continually gravitates towards a more digital age, it is important to know the tools of the trade for writing online. In today’s day in age, you do not want to be embarrassing yourself online because funny mistakes quickly go viral. To ensure you stay ‘cool’ online and more effectively push your content, here are three writing tips:

Keep content “scan friendly.”

Contrary to 25 years ago when everyone took the time to read the newspaper, people today are always in a rush and crave the information as quickly as possible. Therefore, write multiple smaller paragraphs, write in a bulleted list form or include a few eye-catching subheadings. In order to master this skill, you must get to the point quickly and avoid fluff so readers can more easily find the information they were looking for. The second tweet in this thread sums this up nicely:

Finally, make it easy for your prof. to read your exam. Aim for clear & concise writing. Short sentences. Paragraph breaks. Headings/subheadings. Walk the reader through your prediction by providing effective/complete legal analysis. And don't presume your reader knows anything.

— OJ (@ojsalinas) December 2, 2019

Build an attention-grabbing header.

Afterall, the title is the first thing that readers see and it is usually the reason that makes them click on an article. To hook readers in, use active verbs and an active voice. Not only do headlines set the tone, but, good headlines equate to a better SEO so perhaps writers should not quickly overlook the art of headline-writing.

#BloggingTip of the Week: Remember to pay attention to the title of your #blogpost. It is just as important as your content. It's the first thing your readers will see and it needs to catch their attention.Mastering the art of writing a good title takes time! #WednesdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/s33NIedb23

— My Writing Corner – Blogging Tips (@corner_writing) September 18, 2019

Do not assume your reader knows the context of your story.

For example, social media posts can be seen anywhere in the world so make sure to be clear. It is important to explain things so the information does not confuse readers or go over their heads. This will keep readers engaged instead of confusing them to the point where they zone out. The New York Times must be continually concious of ensuring that their content will be understood globally.

Conclusively, to effectively write online, you must be scan-friendly, construct strong headlines and think globally about where your message could potentially reach. By following these three tips, you will maximize your SEO and have your voice hear by more audiences. There is a competitive landscape for online writing so make sure your writing stands out and keeps readers coming back for more.

As the semester nears towards the end and I am still recovering from my Thanksgiving feedbag, I reflect on this semester in JMS 220. First and foremost, I now recognize errors in AP style and I know how to fix them. Coming in to this class, I was intimidated by AP style but from here on out, I can only keep getting better at it. Secondly, I have learned the guidelines of news writing including writing effective headlines, inserting different types of quotes, importance of attribution and being concise.

I have also became well versed on a variety of different story structures. For example I know the pros and cons of using the inverted pyramid. My favorite alternative styles include starting with anecdotes or foreshadowing to make the reader keep reading. I also feel comfortable using a summary lead but I feel as if sometimes it is too basic. Instead I like to use a buried/delayed lead or a nut graph to spice it up.

Interviewing was also an integral part of this course. I can now confidently select strong sources to interview and ask the questions that will provide me interesting answers that I can use for content. It is important to match the tone of the interview as well. If the topic is very serious, it is important to maintain a respectful composure. On the other hand, some interviews can be fun and bubbly to match a more upbeat tone. Lastly, when interviewing, start with small talk and then transition into the heart of the interview.

Conclusively, JMS 220 was a very beneficial course and I cannot wait to move to upper division GEs now 🙂

Lately, life as we know it has slowly been dwindling. There has been a spell cast on the world and everything is pretty much in shambles. Starting with my friend getting hit by a car, our apartment being infested with roaches and stressing to find a house for next year… I think you get what I am trying to say. I must note those issues are only the tip of the iceberg. It’s that time of year when people randomly blurt out, “I am ready to go home for Thanksgiving” while they are knee deep in work at the library during an eight hour cram sesh. I have had my fair share of roaches, midterms and power outings this semester and I too fall into the category of people who randomly proclaim their readiness to return home.

Now to the part of the blog where I connect it to class: I struggled through the broadcast take home assignment and completed it. Although I was overwhelmed at first, I was eventually able to finish the broadcast script with help from my notes and the sample youtube video. I am still confused as to why it has to be in all caps. Personally, I think it is harder to read that way. Additionally, I want to get more familiar and comfortable with the terminology such as “super” so I can easily integrate it into the script. I believe I have perfected the VOSOT. I look forward to getting better at broadcast script writing because it is a unique skill to have and could potentially set me apart from people applying for the same job.

As we embark on week 10 of the semester, were really getting into the thick of it. Halloween may be creeping up on us (literally), but midterms are following closely behind. In my opinion, the midterms are more spooky than halloween itself. Soon enough however I will be able to go home to Connecticut for Thanksgiving. I think I deserve a bit of mental relief.

In Jms 220 recently, I believe I have gotten more comfortable with writing the news editorials. I understand how to construct an attention grabbing and informative lead to effectively convey my message. On top of that, I feel more confident in condensing my writing. When we first started writing the editorials in lab, mine always exceeded the word count but now I am able to keep it under. It is important to be concise for these kind of tasks because people just want to quickly skim for information.

Additionally, I am becoming more familiar with the AP style. At first, it was so daunting and overwhelming. After applying it in my writing, I recognize and remember some of the rules. Although I still question some things such as hyphen words, I know I will become comfortable with those rules soon as well.

The first three weeks of school were a breeze. Getting settled into my new apartment, catching up with friends and exploring San Diego seemed to be my only responsibilities… before the storm hit. All of the sudden my pool time turned into library time. You may be wondering what storm I am referring to. I am talking about the storm that knocks the summer haze right out if you. When I saw my first test pop up on the calendar, it is almost as if my happy and carefree summer self ran away.

Although the storm was devastating at first, it was necessary. Perhaps my summer self was not admitted into San Diego State, but my studious self was. I had to make this important transition as I saw my summer self travel back to the East coast and await my return next May.

As far as JMS 220 goes, my studious self is able to grasp the rules of AP style now that my summer self is not in the way bugging me 24/7. Infact, this week I even composed an entire news brief using the inverted pyramid structure. It is vital to put the important points at the top and details at the bottom to ensure that you maintain readers’ interest and focus. Not only that, but many people may only want the information at the top and not care much about the extra details.

Additionally, I really enjoyed our guest speaker in class this week, Laura Castaneda. She exemplified many perks of the job including access to private events. On the other hand, she highlighted the fact that being a Journalist requires long hours and missing holidays. Well you win some and you lose some. How much I put into my career will be how much I get out of it. She also gave us very helpful tips on how to get ahead now.

1. Become more confident with AP style.
2. Target niche groups in a way that entices them.
3. Remove bias from my writing.
4. Condense information and remove repetition. 
5. See a more clear career path maybe ??

Primarily, I would like to be more comfortable with the AP style because it is a crucial component of becoming a credible journalist. I would like it to become second nature so I do not have to constantly refer back to my notes and double check myself.

Secondly, I want to be able to target specific groups even if I do not relate to them. Throughout my summer internship, I was assigned articles that were supposed to be targeted towards parents of New Jersey and even more specifically, moms of New Jersey. After writing my first article, the editor responded back that the article seemed more like it was targeted towards teenagers. After that, I started focusing more on what my target market wants to hear. Although it is hard to come out of character sometimes, it is important as a writer to put yourself in the readers’ shoes. 

Thirdly, I always try my best to keep my opinions out of my writing, however, sometimes my views shine through without me even trying. While writing, it is easy to get carried away with an idea that you are passionate about without realizing readers may not have the same perspective as you. Therefore, I want to be more conscious while I am writing to not include a bias perspective.

Over-explaining is another pitfall I find in my writing because sometimes I am scared that I did not get my point across effectively or clearly. During the editing and revising phase of the writing process, I often find a group of very similar sentences grouped together in a paragraph. Rather than having a handful of choppy sentences, I would like to have a couple well-written longer sentences. Therefore, I can convey my point more effortlessly and professionally.

Lastly, I hope this class gives me some clarity in what career I would like to eventually end up with. Although I have a very vague picture in my head, I am mostly uncertain of what I exactly want to do in the future. I will not set my expectations high for this goal, but, I do hope this class at least guides me in a career path.