JOUR225
Multi-Platform Writing and Editing
In this course, you will learn how to research, write, and edit news stories that work for online publication—on deadline. Writing for websites is not the same as writing for print media. Web writers and editors need to be aware of the possibilities, limitations, and interactivity of the web and understand how people read web and print copy differently.
Instructors: Shawn Conner and Lisa Manfield
This course is available only as part of the New Media Journalism Certificate.
What will I learn?
By the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:
- Discuss what constitutes news and determine appropriate topics
- Develop questions that elicit information quickly from interviews, press conferences, and more
- Analyze various story structures and understand the principle of the pyramid style
- Write a simple news story on deadline that answers the five w’s: who, what, when, where, and why
- Reshape a story, if necessary, to improve the way it communicates to readers
- Use basic copy editing techniques
- Explain journalistic ethics and right-to-privacy issues
- Tailor and adapt content for the web, understanding the purpose of Web 2.0 tools and SEO
- Research and select appropriate keywords, understanding the role they play in web copy
How will I learn?
- Lectures
- Demonstrations
- In-class exercises
- Assignments
How will I be evaluated?
- Assignment: 85%
- Participation: 15%
Textbooks and learning materials
You need a copy of the Canadian Press Stylebook. We will provide other custom course materials.