In the latest issue of The Masthead, the quarterly journal of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, Visalia Times-Delta opinion page editor Paul Hurley says his paper now directs columnists to make their points succinctly in 450 words, not the traditional 700-800 words that serve as the standard length for columnists at most papers.
The word-tightening mandate, Hurley says, is designed to attract younger, hipper, more time-conscious readers. So, like the rest of the paper, the traditionally gray editoria pages must use "graphics, photos, lists, digests and ... yes, shorter reads" in presenting the commentary of the day.
"Do we really want to write only for the academics and policy makers?" Hurley asks.
And it's a good question.
Hurley concludes his 439-word take on the topic with: "Less is more (readers)."
Is it?
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3 comments:
No - less is just less. I find it hard to believe that cutting 350 words from each column is going to translate into a newspaper readership surge.
So the MTV format is now coming to print journalism! Increasingly, audiences seem to want lots of little bits of information, packaged and easy to read, along with content that is not overly complex. The college aged audience gets their primary news from television, but seems to be moving to on-line news, too. At least with on-line content, one still has to actually read words on a ...screen.
Paper costs money...put those editorials on-line and they can go on forever!
-Jen Mullen
People online don't like to read wordy words.
Get to the point and tell them what they want to know. Allow for feedback too so they can ask specifically what they want to know.
"Journalists" of the future will also be VERY good at "customer service".
Answering questions and "building" their stories, over time. Just like these "stories" we're creating here.
Look at this way:
Sports
Yankees win 6-4
Broncos lose 34-10
Texans win 17-10
For full sports data and information go to: mysportsonline.com or email me with your request at: ... or call me at ....
This is what will begin to appear in print and online. TO a degree. Not entirely. Measuring is VERY important.
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