Another old piece from my MA work. This was, in fact, just a small part of a wider essay that I wrote to accompany a portfolio of webzine articles. I have therefore now edited and expanded upon it certain places in order to round it off. I'm posting it in the blog for the future, and hope somebody may yet find it useful... even if they just fish the quotes out of it.

Writing content for online publication shares many of the same key skills as traditional journalism insomuch as the content must be relevant, written in a dynamic and easy to follow manner, and correctly formatted for the medium of publication. The Jennifer Kyrnin article, ‘10 Tips For Good Web Writing’ published on About.com, breaks these down into a list of ten easy to remember rules:

1. Write relevant content.

2. Put conclusions at the beginning.

3. Write only one idea per paragraph.

4. Use action words.

5. Use lists instead of paragraphs.

6. Limit list items to 7 words.

7. Write short sentences.

8. Include internal sub-headings.

9. Make your links part of the copy.

10. Proofread your work.1

However the first major difference between writing for print and the web is in the formatting of the articles. As in traditional journalism, style guides differ from publication to publication depending on the audience it caters for but many web-based publications today will have accessibility on a global scale in mind. For example, MSN news will keep the sentences short, with one idea per paragraph, use contextual hyperlinks and include sub headings in bold and italic type. The logic behind keeping the style simple and the format easy to navigate is due to articles on a screen being harder to read, and according to the London School of Economics website:

“People who use the web do not behave like people reading a book. They are usually looking for specific information. Web authors must make it easy for them to find what they want.

Studies show that people read online text a lot slower than printed text. Reading from a screen for an extended period of time is generally an unpleasant experience for most users.”2

When taking this into account we can see a definite gap begin to emerge between the styles of the articles written for print and the web. For instance, in the daily newspaper The Independent on the 14th of August 2010, the article Not stopping at the next station – there's no driver, about a runaway maintenance train on the London Underground was featured. On the MSN UK news website, an article on the same subject appeared titled Tube line cleared due to runaway maintenance train. The first major difference is visible in the titles themselves. The Independent article is ambiguous and draws you in, whereas the MSN article is immediate and full of information. One reason behind this is what is known as Search Engine Optimisation – the practice of including certain keywords in articles in order to gain listings in search engines such as Google. Another reason according to Jakob Nielson is that:

“In print, you can spice up linear narrative with anecdotes and individual examples that support a storytelling approach to exposition. On the Web, such content often feels like filler; it slows down users and stands in the way of their getting to the point.”3

This example is best illustrated by the opening paragraphs to each article. In The Independent the opening paragraph is a sentence containing a brief summary of the story with little information yet it uses dramatic words such as “Chaos” and “Hurtled” to peak the reader’s attention.

“A runaway train brought chaos to London Underground yesterday as it hurtled through six stops on the Northern line.”4

However in the MSN article we can immediately see that there is significantly more information included in the opening paragraph, although the overall length of the sentences doesn't differ by much.

“A runaway train went through six stops on a 13-minute journey on the Tube on Friday with other Underground trains having to be cleared out of its path.”5

Another area where web journalism differs from print is in the presentation of articles, which differs significantly in many areas. The principle formats for print articles are broken down into three categories; News, news in brief and features. For online journalists the formats can include these and sub-sections thereof. For instance a feature may be included amongst a web of articles that are connected by hyperlinks. It may be broken down into galleries with photographs providing the lead ins. Audio and video may also be included to give more contextual background and interactivity that doesn't detract from the conciseness of the text. According to Robert Niles, writing for‘The Online Journalism Review, the opportunity is also there to utilise other formats than the web article to create a rapport with the reader by crafting an article that will create a discourse between the writer and the audience.

“Online writers can communicate with their readers in many more forms than the traditional news article. Blogs, ‘Wikis’ and discussion boards dissolve the barrier between writer and reader, creating a more informal and interactive writing environment. Take advantage of this opportunity and distinguish yourself by writing in a clean, active, conversational style that will make your readers feel as comfortable reading your words as they feel when talking with a close friend.”6

Many publications do operate both print and web services; The Independent, for example, includes all the articles available in it's newspaper and magazines and re-prints them on the website. These articles remain unchanged from the way they appear in print form, but are incorporated into the web layout with links to similar articles within the website. This is a common practice among magazines and newspapers that were published in print before adding a digital wing as well. This has the benefit of making the content from previous editions of the publication archival and allowing people, who didn’t purchase the physical copy in time, to go back and find articles.

However some publications have begun to switch over to purely digital content and as such have archived their print editions as pictures in JPG, PDF or Flash formats. These differ in effectiveness as to the search-ability of the content on the web as search engines do not as easily index JPG and Flash files as they do a PDF file. This has led some web publications to also create downloadable PDF versions of their articles as an electronic publication (E-Zine etc.) which can either be sold for a nominal fee or downloaded free of charge. Provided the downloader has a portable computer or tablet to view the document on they no longer need to be connected to that site to view the content.

The final difference is speed. Although a news site may receive a story from the same source as a newspaper, the speed at which they are published differs greatly. A news site like BBC online compared to The Independent can break news within an hour or so of it happening, if not instantly. This is due to the speed at which content is written, checked and published. This is why an initial report will often be short and sketchy on the details, and followed up with several more to clarify things, which is not dissimilar from the way modern rolling TV news operates. As a blog or webzine publication most news will be broken from a press release or taken second hand from another news source. These lead to a lot of repetition on sites as contributor’s copy and paste press releases or directly quote large chunks of other stories in an attempt to break news quickly.

In stark comparison newspapers and magazines may have to wait up to between a day and even a month before the same story can be published. This therefore gives them more time in which to be able to write original content and allow for more clarified information to come through before committing to publication.

With major publications invested in digital content, and new magazines, journals and newspapers increasingly opting for a web or other electronic platform to reach more readers, it is safe to assume that web writing is a skill that all journalists will need in their arsenal in the future. Newly qualified journalists will also have to have an increasing awareness of not only web writing, but also in the construction of websites. Basic skills such ass hyper linking, creating and adding pictures and graphics to HTML will all be part and parcel of prepping articles for publication. That is of course barring the irreversible collapse of the Internet overnight.

End Notes:
1 Kyrnin, Jennifer. 10 Tips For Good Web Writing. (webdesign.about.com/od/writing/a/aa031405.htm)
2 Writing For The Web. (www.lse.ac.uk/resources/webEditorsHandbook/bestPracticeGuide/editorialWriting/writingForTheWeb.htm ) 2009
3 Nielson, Jacob. Writing Style For Print Vs Web. (www.useit.com/alertbox/print-vs-online-content.html ) June 2008
4 Woodman, Peter. Not stopping at the next station – there's no driver. Independent (London), Saturday 14th August 2010. pp 11.
5 Tube line cleared due to runaway maintenance train. (news.uk.msn.com/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=154392333), Saturday 14th August 2010.
6 Niles, Roberts. How To Write For The Web. OJR: The Online Journalism Review (www.ojr.org/ojr/wiki/writing/), March 2008.

Peter Steele (b. 1962 - d. 2010)
Vocalist/Bassist (Type O Negative)
 

Though it was the band’s most successful period it was one of the hardest in Steele’s personal life. The heights of success inevitably opened the doors to chemical influences taking hold of the front man and personal tragedies sent him into another spiral of depression. At this time, burnt out from two solid years of touring, Steele dreaded the phone calls from the label asking for a more successful record from him. Though an album was finally finished it was evident that Steele was writing to exorcise his demons, not to sell records.




1999’s ‘World Coming Down’ returned to the melancholic dirges of ‘Bloody Kisses’ sans the humour. The album was the darkest since the band’s debut with songs like ‘Everyone I Love is Dead’, Everything Dies’, and ‘World Coming Down’ dominating the track listing. The album wasn’t as well received as previous efforts, but it still fed the hungry waves of fans and the resulting tour led to Steele attempting to clean up his act. An interim best of album called ‘The Least Worst of Type O Negative’ was released while Steele focussed on himself.

“What asshole starts to drink and use drugs every day when they are 36 or 37? It’s a real F**king disgrace. I’m kind of shocked at myself, I’m embarrassed […] That slump of doing too much drinking and cocaine is becoming a thing of the past and I’m starting to get myself back a little bit.” - Terrorizer Magazine [http://www.casketcrew.com/media/terrorizer-interview/]

The band’s next album ‘Life is Killing Me’ showed that Steel was indeed getting back to his old self. Though dark, the album had the most humorous and playful feel than any album since ‘Origin…’ and ‘Bloody Kisses’, even including a cover of ‘Angry Inch’ from the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The supporting video for ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Me’ made a modest impact on radio and TV play lists, but ultimately the band was left to tour to promote the album. This proved to be the last album released by Roadrunner under the contract Steele had signed back in the 80’s with Carnivore. The band parted ways with the label after European competitors SPV signed them to release the bands next album.



But another spell of silence befell Steele and co. With the band’s webpage proclaiming “Peter Steele: 1962-2005” On the interim live DVD ‘Symphony For The Devil’ and other interviews Steele explained that the length between releases was down to his incarceration in Riker's Island and "the psych ward at Kings County Hospital" at the hands of his family for his psychological and drug problems.

“I violated probation because you know due to drugs and alcohol and just having a case of like all I had to do was like show up once a month and put my hand into a fuckin machine […] I didn't show up for like six months and then I'm like so, let them come and get me and you know what? Bang! Bang! Bang! Is Peter there? Housekeeping!" - MK Magazine [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=73285]

The album for SPV records followed soon after the DVD release. ‘Dead Again’ saw Steele once again working through his feelings, this time regarding drug addiction and betrayal (‘Tripping a Blind Man’), as well as his conversion to Catholicism (‘Ode to Locksmiths’), and opinions on abortion (‘These Three Things’). Unlike ‘World Coming Down’ however, Steele maintained his sense of humour and the album received a positive run with one of the highest chart positions since ‘October Rust’ as well as good radio and TV coverage of the band’s singles ‘Profit of Doom’ and ‘September Sun’. The subsequent tour received positive reviews for the newly sober Steele, and the band continued on supporting the album, in 2009 signing up for the Jaegermeister tour with fellow New Yorkers Hatebreed and 3 Inches of Blood.

“Apparently, when you’re drunk you don’t realise how badly you’re playing and how badly you’re singing. People have told me that I sound much better and I’m playing much better. I don’t really see it as much as other people do because I was drunk. But I realise that I was primarily responsible for almost destroying this band. The last five years of tours have been full of coke and alcohol and I didn’t think the thing was apparent […] If I’m fucked up, half the band’s fucked up […] So I’m trying to rectify the damage that I’ve done by just doing the best job that I can…” - Hardtimes.ca [http://www.hardtimes.ca/typeoOnegative09]

Steele’s new sense of optimism was unfortunately cut short on the 14th of April this year. The cause was widely reported as heart failure. Rumours of the front man’s death had flooded the internet but been met with scepticism after the infamous 2005 prank. However the news that Stele had died aged 48, was later confirmed by the other members of Type O Negative and soon tributes flooded in from friends, bands and fans.

Peter Steele was buried in Saint Charles Cemetary, Farmingdale alongside his parents.

“Well, that's it, that's all we have. I hope it wasn't too disappointing…” - October Rust 1996

Peter Steele (b. 1962 - d. 2010)
Vocalist/Bassist (Type O Negative)

It always seemed apparent that the time that Brooklyn born Petrus T. Ratajczyk, better known to fans of Goth Metal as Peter Steele, last felt truly free was while working for the New York Parks Department. At this time his 80’s Hardcore/Thrash Metal band Carnivore had come to an apathetic demise after just two albums, and the thought of starting a new band was the last thing on his mind. Instead he’d occupy himself raking leaves, mending fences, and thinking up new euphemisms for maggots (‘dancing rice’ being a popular one among his colleagues).

Then it all went wrong. He broke up with his long-time girlfriend, attempted suicide, and wrote an album that saw him signed back to his old record label. The album was 1991’s ‘Slow, Deep and Hard’ a Hardcore/Doom Metal crossover about infidelity, self-loathing, and everything that pissed off and depressed the six foot six Steele in the previous year. The album was loved by some, and hated by others (including Steele).

“… it was only supposed to be a demo. I was drunk and pissed and I wrote the whole thing in 4 hours. Little did I know that demo would be pressed into an album. So we were pretty much trapped into something I wrote in a span of a few hours […] If I had to do it over, Bloody Kisses would be the first album.” -Rock Out Censorship [http://www.theroc.org/roc-mag/textarch/roc-18/roc18-06.htm]

The Band was condemned by domestic audiences as communists and homosexuals for Steele’s Russo-Icelandic heritage and sensitive lyrics. Internationally they feared little better with most of the European tour cancelled due to anti-fascist groups labelling them a Nazi band (despite Keyboardist Josh Silver being Jewish).



The disastrous tour was immortalized by the band when Roadrunner Records gave them money to do a live album. The band instead spent the money and recorded a fake live album in a basement with their friend’s heckling them with the now familiar “You Suck” as an overdub. The album “Origin of the Faeces: Not Live at Brighton Beach”, became a cult hit for its dry humorous take on a Type O Negative live show and the cover of Jimi Hendrix‘s ‘Hey Joe’ (re-dubbed ‘Hey Peter’). Their label, however, did not see the funny side of it. The album, despite being reworked tracks from their debut, displayed a different approach to the song writing. Under Steele’s direction, Silver’s keyboards were mixed higher and became more Ambient and Gothic in sound.

This carried over onto the bands 1994 sophomore album ‘Bloody Kisses’. This time the anger was running second fiddle to elaborate Gothic hymns to female stereotypes (‘Black No.1’ and ‘Christian Woman’) as well as misery and heartache (‘Too Late: Frozen’ and ‘Bloody Kisses - A Death in the Family’). The album was originally released with many instrumental and humorous tracks, but after the videos for ‘Black No.1’ and ‘Christian Woman’ received play on MTV a re-edit and re-release of just the core tracks propelled the album to gold status. A first for the band and their record label.

With the band’s stock rising internationally and domestically the band crafted a dramatic stage presence on tour with bands such as Mötley Crüe and Nine Inch Nails, with Steele’s vampiric persona and trademark red wine consumption dominating reviews. The label eager to capitalise on the band’s success pushed Steele for a follow up.

“I don't know what drugs they were on. I guess they wanted to make another remake of Bloody Kisses, Bloody Kisses II or something like that. They didn't get it.” - NY Rock [http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/ton_int.htm]

The album that Peter wrote instead was a milestone in what came to be known as ‘Goth Metal’. Part Gothic Rock, part Psychedelic, and filtered through Black Sabbath style guitars - 1996’s ‘October Rust’ turned Type O Negative into an international force. The band embarked on tours with Pantera, Ozzy Osbourne, and headlined festivals in the USA and Europe. MTV once again came calling and the romantic and playful videos for ‘Love You To Death’ and ‘My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend’ turned Steele into a reluctant sex symbol. Appearing on Jerry Springer and Riki Lake as an example of the definitive “Metal Male”. It wasn’t before long that Playgirl magazine invited Steele to do a spread - though Steele was said to be embarrassed after finding out that most of the magazine’s subscribers were in fact men.

“After I did it, I thought, "Oh my God, what did I do?" It was more than upsetting that so many guys had it. Girls, OK, but there just seemed to be at least as many guys. Not that I'm homophobic, but it was certainly irritating.” - NY Rock [http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/ton_int.htm]

Part 2 tomorrow...