Question 1

Twitter has become a medium of news communication. What are the advantages and drawbacks to that development?

Accepted Answer

The major advantage is the ability to reach thousands of people as an event occurs or shortly thereafter In many respects, Twitter is simply a new form of the genre ,of wire service reporting, with ,quick burst,s, of information The drawback seems to be that it further limits the depth of news reporting and, if the traditional media are ignored and it's the only source of information, it can be argued ,Twitter, contributes to an increased superficiality of news and information.

Question 2

The new communication technologies "are changing the way we live, work, access information and content, and relate to one another." How have they impacted your life, particularly in terms of news and information?

Accepted Answer

Designed as an icebreaker question with no "right" answer, the responses should be interesting Is there a greater awareness of the wider world due to this technology, or is this generation withdrawing into informational isolation, following a pattern made possible by earlier communications technologies,?

Question 3

Technology has always altered our patterns of communication." Explain how.

Accepted Answer

Due to increased stages of efficiency and speed, news and information has increasingly traveled faster and faster By their nature, radio, television, the Internet, and the new social media have fostered increased interactivity with audience members Whether we know more than in the past, of course, may be debated.

Question 4

A related question: Readers have the power to customize their electronic "newspapers," selecting stories or information of interest to them alone. Is this good? Bad? Your thoughts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A related question: Readers have the power...

Question 5

In many respects, online print journalistic writing differs little from newspaper writing. Online news writing is regular news writing, only more so.

Accepted Answer

Online print journalistic writing follows the same principles as traditional newspaper writing, but may have additional features such as multimedia elements and hyperlinks.

Question 6

The online writer has to "write tight" in order to keep the story as brief as possible.

Accepted Answer

Online readers have shorter attention spans and prefer shorter articles, which puts pressure on writers to deliver information in a concise manner. Therefore, "writing tight" is necessary for an online writer to keep the story as brief as possible.

Question 7

One difference in online news writing is that the inverted pyramid has generally been abandoned because once the online reader clicks onto a story, they read in entirety, making the traditional story format unnecessary.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. While online news writing does have some differences compared to traditional print journalism, the inverted pyramid format is still commonly used to ensure that the most important information is presented at the beginning of the story. This is especially important online, where readers may have shorter attention spans and be more likely to skim or multitask while reading.

Question 8

Given the fascination people have with online "newspapers," reporters don't have to worry about using visual gimmicks such as boldface, color or bullets in the text.

Accepted Answer

While online newspapers may have a visual advantage due to the possibility of incorporating multimedia elements, reporters still need to use visual aids such as boldface, color or bullets to make their text more readable and engaging for the reader.

Question 9

Writing for a Web page calls for a hybrid mix of print and broadcast writing skills and presentation. Thus, the Web story has to be planned in advance, with related sidebars or links with graphics, pictures, transcripts, or other supporting data.

Accepted Answer

Writing for a Web page requires both print and broadcast writing skills, as well as the ability to present information with graphics, pictures, and other supporting data. Therefore, planning the Web story in advance with related sidebars or links is essential.

Question 10

One advantage of writing for online is that there is less emphasis on correct punctuation and grammar. With the writing rules being bent for e-mail or Twitter, readers are used to informal language usage; they focus on the content and ignore "mistakes."

Accepted Answer

While online writing, especially on social media, can be more informal, correct punctuation and grammar remain important for clarity, professionalism, and credibility, especially in professional or formal contexts.

Question 11

Major ongoing stories have to be updated every few minutes because Web readers now expect news on demand, as it happens, with constant updates. If it isn't fresh, they'll go somewhere else.

Accepted Answer

With the rise of digital media consumption, readers now expect constant updates on major stories. If a news article is not updated frequently, readers might lose interest and go somewhere else.

Question 12

One real advantage of working online with the Internet as a resource is that a reporter doesn't have to do the research required even a few years ago. Now one can surf the Web, download some facts, figures and quotes without attribution and the story virtually writes itself.

Accepted Answer

Using the Internet as a resource does reduce the time required for research, but responsible journalism still requires verifying information, attributing sources, and ensuring the accuracy of facts and quotes. Simply downloading content without proper attribution is unethical and can lead to misinformation.

Question 13

Successful newspaper reporters, broadcast journalists, and public relations practitioners needed to have outstanding writing ability. Now that skill is not enough. What else is necessary?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Successful newspaper reporters, broadcast journalists, and public...

Question 14

How does blog writing differ from traditional journalistic reporting styles?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does blog writing differ from traditional...

Question 15

What are some tips for good blog writing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some tips for good blog...

Question 16

Public relations writers use blogs to be reporter, editor and publisher, thereby bypassing traditional media gatekeepers in order to post information directly to readers. Is there a disadvantage to being able to do so?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Public relations writers use blogs to be...

Question 17

How do news organizations use Twitter?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do news organizations use Twitter?...

Question 18

What are some guidelines for writing for Twitter?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some guidelines for writing for...

Question 19

Why is Facebook an effective tool for journalists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is Facebook an effective tool for...

Question 20

Some rules for writing for the social media?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some rules for writing for the social...

Quiz 13: Writing and Reporting in the New New Media