Using Links in Online Journalism Stories

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CHAPTER 8

• Using Links in Online Journalism Stories

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Overview

• Basic technique of creating links in HTML
• Issues involved in linking
• Selection of links
• Presentation of links
• Shells

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Links

• Second only to text in their ability to convey
  information to the user
• A seamless and logical means of letting the user
  experience the story and explore it further
• Use only the best links

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Creating Links Using HTML

• Use the anchor tag
• web page
• Create named anchorsto designate a portion of
  the Web page to link to
• Set the link targetto tell the browser to open
  the document in a new window or in the existing
  window

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Linking Issues

• Permission to link
• Link maintenance
• Risk of taking users away from the story

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Link Maintenance

• Make sure they work
• Make sure they take the user to the promised
  information
• Make sure they work on several different
  computers
• Warn users of any extra software required to
  access a site

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Selecting Links

• Selected links may serve several functions
• Background
• Backing up information
• Alternate points of view
• Further exploration

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Presenting Links

• Users should know what they are going to get when
  they click on the link
• Presentation should provide an overview of what
  it is and who it comes from
• Links should be integrated into the story

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Methods of Presenting Links

• Main story linkshyperlink text within the story
• Sidebar linkscreate separate links in addition
  to the main story

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A Main Story Link
A recent report by the Animal Welfare
Association estimated that more than 300 racing
greyhounds are seriously injured each year.
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An Unclear Main Story Link
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An Awkward and Obscure Main Story Link
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Poorly Written and Improved Link Text
(a) Is Greyhound Racing as Bad as They
Say? Greyhounds make great pets. Click here for a
Greyhound Adoption Directory. (b) The Greyhound
Racing Association of America disputes criticisms
of greyhound racing. The National Greyhound
Adoption Program says greyhounds have many traits
that make them great pets. An interactive
directory from adopt-a-greyhound.org can help you
find greyhound adoption centers near you.
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Example of Sidebar Links
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Shells

• A collection of related links and information
  that gives users access to a wealth of related
  information

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Types of Shells

• Beat shells
• Issue shells
• Story shells
• User shells

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Example Beat Shell