|
3.
Writing for the web - including objectivity and bias
Good writing for the web is closer to a
radio script than to a magazine article, often using an informal,
personal style. Also, because it is relatively easy to publish on
the Web, it is easy to forget that anything launched publicly is a
published document, available to all.
No matter how informal the style, nor
how quick and easy the publishing process, the content should always be
accurate and authoritative.
Accuracy and
legal issues
There is no formal requirement for a
website to be balanced (and indeed many are not). But any site
which maintains good journalistic standards will have greater authority
and impact than one which does not.
To help the trainees create accurate,
trustworthy sites they should be taught
accepted journalistic guidelines, including:
- issues of bias and objectivity - balance
(allowing all sides of the issue) - or at least clearly identifying
when a site is looking from a particular interest or point of view
- accuracy: the importance of fact
checking, not distorting facts
- authority: the importance of
identifying and crediting sources
- libel and copyright issues.
Useful materials for discussion
include:
Click here
for the next element of the course: Using the
web for research
Click here to return to the Course
Introduction
|
