AltCity Editing for the web

Editing for the Web Learn  how  to  edit  your  online  wri0en  content  to  grab  –  and  keep  –  your  

readers’  a0en9on!  

This module will cover:

1.  What is editing? 2.  What makes editing for the web different? 3.  How should we edit?

?

WHAT

is

e d i t i n g

What comes first

vs

What's the difference

Copy-editing Proofreading

The overall picture... The details...

Would readers like – and read – this article? Would a mean

grammar teacher like this article?

Copy-editing Proofreading

As an editor of a youth or citizen media outlet,

what are YOU looking for?

plagiarism & sourcing

accuracy

form/format

style

appropriateness

consistency

objectivity / balance

content

•  no copy/paste allowed here! (but

hyperlinks are)

correct spelling, grammar, punctuation

& facts?

check length of article, paragraphs, sentences

etc; title & sub-headings?

followed your outlet’s style guidelines / AP style?

article appropriate for your outlet, your audience; &

tone appropriate?

article keeps consistent format, style, tone, etc?

article covering both/all sides of an argument?

multiple quotes/opinions?

content logical & interesting?

overall structure

good?

consistent & appropriate style, tone,

etc?

how is the content?

logical? focused?

interesting?

Copy-editing

grammar good?

check details

!punctuation?

spellling?

are their homonyms?

hyperlinks?

Proofreading

Citizen media editors normally need to look out for all these things!

☺

Do you know @ny online tools that can help you?

Online tools

To check for grammar, punctuation + more: Grammarly

and to check for plagiarism: VeriGuide

And many others. What do you need help with? What can you find?

What about online content?

Short headlines, short paragraphs, short sentences, short everything!

Conciseness

Headline and first paragraph must be snappy to draw the reader in.

Grab the reader’s attention!

Subheadings are essential •  Think in blocks. Each paragraph must stand

semi-independently from each other. •  Try using bullets or lists.

Scannable & Navigable?

Encourage the reader to comment on, share, and

dig deeper into the article.

Eye-tracking technology shows the general pattern to the way people browse web-pages. Here is an example of an article

RED = Most viewed BLUE = Least viewed

Pattern generally is shaped like an

F

Consider creating your own editing checklist The checklist should be a list of clear questions each writer & editor needs to ask him/herself when preparing an article for publication.

Q1: Q2: Q3:

Does the order matter?

A. ? B. ? C. ? D. ? E. ?

D. ? C. ? A. ? B. ? E. ?

Thank you! Please visit www.altcity.me to learn more about our work