The Center for Anthropology and Science Communications facilitates improved communication between anthropologists, the public, and science media.
Merry Bruns, Director
mbruns@nasw.org
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The Center for Anthropology and Science Communications facilitates improved communication between anthropologists, the public, and science media. Merry Bruns, Director mbruns@nasw.org |
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Copyright
1995-2009.CASC.
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Transitioning from Print to Web by
Merry Bruns
Science writing on the Web requires special handling, to both maintain accuracy, and to keep a reader interested enough to keep reading text on a monitor. Traditional science writing, largely geared towards print, doesn't always work on the Web. Even stories written for newspapers can appear dense and lengthy (and sometimes unreadable) if put directly on a Web site, without careful editing. Length and complexity are the main issues, and require careful Web-editing to retain accuracy and voice, without over-summarizing the story. If you're going to write for the Web, remember that it offers terrific advantages, as well as drawbacks.
You won't be able to write the way you would for academics-but with the Web, you've got a new medium that can help you say everything you want to say, and preserve technical accurately. Anthropology, archeology, and biological anthropology present terrific stories for the Web, but also need careful editing to preserve the excitement, and to take advantage of the Web's hypertext and image possibilities.
A story can develop along a main line-you can start with a linear presentation if you like. Keep the direction, and don't lose track of your main point. But branch off from there-and use the Web's terrific opportunities to include all your extra background material, all the bits that usually get cut out of a newspaper story-and include them in your Web writing. But be sure they actually add to the story, and make it worth the reader's time to move around in hyperspace finding them. You can use all this extra information as
If you're wiring for the popular press, remember your rules for writing for newspapers and magazines-and keep your story line tight, and your writing voice active. To create stories that work on the Web, you'll need to understand how a Web site's constructed, and a strong sense of how to combine visuals in with your story. For any story you're writing, consider how a photo, or a drawing might help illustrate what you're saying.
The Web is a hybrid-it's images and text in a brand-new environment. Combined, it all creates a learning environment that's unique. A touch of creative thinking never hurt, here.
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