Lecture Three: What is text?

This lecture was conducted by the reputable print journalist, Skye Doherty.
Text is flexible and portable, and dominates online, among many other things. This lecture began with a discussion of the best way to structure news stories, and the ultimate importance of news values. Skye mentioned the inverted pyramid, the importance of which has been emphasised in just about every one of my classes so far. Left, is a diagram of the inverted pyramid which shows how it can be used as a guide to structure stories. The 5Ws & H should always be included in the lead (who, what, when, where, why and how).

We discussed the value of 'hypertext' on internet sites and how it can assists online journalist to package together loads of information in each of their stories, while still using a linear and concise structure. Online platforms allow us to do things that old print media does not.

Text is (just to name a few)..

• The content of a story
• The headlines, standfirst and bi-line
• Captions and pull out quotes
• On internet platforms - Break out boxes and links

Skye enforced the importance of cleverly crafting headlines, in any text platform - they must grab the readers full attention with just a few words. Headline crafting is an art; and not an easy one at that. Headlines must contain a verb, they must be true and correct, and be careful when using puns; if not done well, they can detract from the story and will not work in your favour.
Skye explained to us in details of the layout of newspapers, both print and online, such as those listed above, as well as pointers; these give audiences a taste of what's inside the newspaper to entice them to read on.

                 The Courier Mail online version                                                     The Courier Mail print version

Text also spreads across many online social platforms; such as emails, blogs, tweets and facebook updates. These platforms may include pictures or other links also, but text is the fundamentally important element of each.  Even though it has been long thought that publishing on the web isn't so bad because things can always be edited, so are never 'wrong for long', this is not entirely true; the first copy published is the copy that is indexed into search engine databases, and it stays there. If you push something out that is wrong, it is very difficult to pull it back again. Skye advised us to always be wary of this. Using correct metadata is also fundamentally important when digitally publishing, as these packets of information provided by you are how people will find your text via search engines.

Skye's lecture was incredibly informative and helpful; she gave many good pointers about things we can do to ensure success in our careers, the most important of which, to me, was when she told us we should be our own moral compass, and always be totally comfortable in ourselves with what we publish and how we get our stories - this will ensure we don't get caught up in unethical practises, like some unfortunate News of the World journalists did.