25 Not-Very-Technical Things Journalists Should Understand in 2008

I continue to be surprised at how many journalists continue to struggle with web publishing. Here are 25 must-knows for people publishing content to the web in 2008:

1. How to create a link. Both using a WYSIWYG publisher and hand coded. Put it on a Post-It next to your desk, or Google it if you can't remember how.

2. How to embed photos and videos.

3. How to properly cite other sources. Understand that people are more generous on the web so you may run into trouble if you play by offline's rules.

4. How to buy a domain name.

5. How to buy an ad on Google AdWords.

6. How to use an RSS reader.

7. How to set up Google Alerts.

8. How to do some advanced searches such as phrase matches, negatives, and site-specific searches.

9. How Wikipedia works and changes over time.

10. How to join conversations on other blogs.

11. How to moderate comments.

12. How trackbacks work.

13. How to upload photos and video to the web.

14. How to record audio.

15. How to shoot video someone beyond your immediate family would find interesting.

16. How to measure a your content's performance.

17. How to use Facebook and LinkedIn.

18. How to use Twitter.

19. How to build upon stories you found on blogs.

20. How to edit live stories.

21. How to do a round-up post.

22. How Creative Commons works.

23. How blogs make money.

24. How to find subject experts on the web.

25. How to deal with trolls.

If you've written advice posts regarding any of these subjects, drop a link to it in the comments.

Good point, Jon. I'm working from the assumption that journalists have better writing than technical skills in this case. Personally, I lean toward a publish first, deal with edits later mentality yet realize that approach doesn't please everyone.

Wow! I'm not a journalist but I realize I'm good for about 50% 60% of the list in the sense that I'm aware of them and sort of how to use them but I know I could be better.

Ex: I'm on Facebook and LinkedIn but really not using them for other than building this network base. I know about Twitter but can't understand why people want to know if I'm drinking coffee or about to do my laundry.

I'm thinking this is prime stuff for a Web 2.0 for Dummies type book but then it'd probably be dated by the time it was published.

Comments

1. Posted by: NeuroAster (a.k.a. Jon Pear) on October 16, 2008 1:44 PM:

Would you agree that how to spell, avoid grammatical errors, and proofread are also important? Personally, I notice more typos and/or spelling/grammar mistakes on monitor-screens than on paper. Just a thought :)

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