I Blog, Therefore I Am

Headlines and Hypertext

Brian Carroll’s chapter on “Headlines and Hypertext” dedicates over thirty pages to the effective use of both these digital tools.  Specific instructions are included on how to craft an attention-grabbing headline and how to best hyperlink an article entry.  To explain what kind of information a Web writer should link, Carroll makes these suggestions:

·      Primary sources

·      Public records

·      Interview notes and excerpts

·      Related or archival stories and information

·      Definitions of terms and brief explanations

·      Multimedia

These suggestions were extremely helpful to me, as I have never been aware that there were specific “rules” for hyperlinking beyond my common sense.  From the reading, I discovered hyperlinks should be obvious and instantly recognizable.  This can be done with underlining or a different color text, so long as it is consistent throughout the post and clear to the reader.  Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor quoted in the text, makes an excellent commandment regarding linking: “Link unto others’ good stuff as you would have them link unto your good stuff.”  Media experts have found that linking text to other related sources, even competition, emphasizes legitimacy and ultimately brings the return of readers to the original source in the future. 

Similarly, epic headlines demand their own set of rules.  Carroll suggests that well-written headlines:

·      Attract the reader’s attention

·      Summarize content

·      Help reader index that content

·      Depict mood and tone

·      Help set the tone

·      Provide typographic relief

The prevalent actor
starred in The Dark Knight
just before his death.

Additionally, headlines also help readers decide what is worth reading, and what is not.  For this purpose, it is beneficial to keep a headline simple and its keywords searchable.  For example, when an Australian newspaper wrote the headline: “Heath Ledger Dies,” some were skeptical that the title was too boring or not creative enough.  Another newspaper chose “Dead in Bed” as their headline for the actor’s death.  Although the latter headline was catchy and memorable, when readers searched for the news, the article that included Heath Ledger’s name received several more hits on Google.  The simplicity and inclusion of important facts in a headline can make all the difference in news!

Blogito, Ergo Sum

A later chapter entitled, “Blogito, Ergo Sum” essentially answers the question: What is a blog?  Carroll describes it as a “value-neutral medium or media format for publishing online.”  In that same vein, I consider blogging to be one of the most open and flexible mediums.  The saying, “The world is your oyster” can be similarly applied to the Internet and blogging.  The Internet is your oyster, and blogging is your means for arriving at your desired destination.  The benefits of blogging are limitless. Blogging enables reporters, eyewitnesses, and community members to comment on issues that matter to their lives.  However, where is the line drawn between blogging and journalism?  How does a high-quality newspaper article differ from a first-rate blog post?