by Ruth Belena

Created on: December 29, 2009

Journalists and writers achieve greater success when they are aware of the differences between print and online journalism. Printed publications and the Internet are two entirely different media. Opinion pieces, reviews, straight reporting and political analysis will continue to be published and read in print and online. To produce an effective piece of journalism it is important to consider who will be reading the piece, where it is to be published and how people will find what they want to read.

◊ Breaking news.

One of the biggest and greatest differences between print and online journalism is that a news story appears in print when it is already old news. Newspapers generally print yesterday's news. Online news is reported almost as it happens.

Members of social sites like Twitter report breaking news and share links to pictures taken while events are still happening. Online journalists can take advantage by writing up-to-date news for a blog or a news site, based around what is reported by eye-witnesses who post updates on their social pages. There is less value in that information by the time a piece appears in print.     

◊ Worldwide exposure.

Anything posted online can be read around the world. In online journalism it is often necessary to include additional information as it cannot be assumed that everyone reading it will know where the city is located, or why the celebrity involved is famous.

Online news stories need to be reported in good plain standard English, avoiding the use of slang terms unless the meaning is clear. Direct quotes might need some explaining when cultural references will not be understood outside that locality.

Journalism in a print publication is generally written for local people or for a national readership. Then is not always necessary to record all the minor details or to translate colloquial expressions.

◊ Images, video audio clips.

Online journalism is not just concerned with words, there could also be some relevant images, or the story can be linked to a slide-show. Original video footage is highly valuable to online journalism. An audio clip can be used to feature an extract from a speech or a full interview.

When a topical news story or an unusual event is reported online, and is enhanced with exclusive images, video or audio, it is more likely to be shared and discussed on social sites and in online forums. Online journalism can potentially

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