Last week, we used ENPS for the first time to create our script and running order and so I wanted to create a 'how to' guide for getting started with the programme.
Step 1 - Open up a new document by clicking on the green button in your user file at the bottom.
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
How to get started with ENPS
How to get more followers to your blog
An interesting little feature on blogger is the 'Next Blog' button. This brings up a totally random blog which can prove to be not only interesting, but useful as well as you can find people with similar interests and hobbies etc.
Following these people on facebook will open up your blog to a whole new audience in different countries across the world and is sure to increase your hit count.
By the way, I realise the above picture is not my blog but I haven't got the task bar in my template so I haven't got the option to use the 'Next Blog' button directly from my page!
How to avoid Flickr copyright issues
Flickr is a brilliant website where anyone can upload their photos which can be viewed by anyone. Obviously there can be issues with copyright if you wish to use other people's photos for your website. Here is a way to make sure you stay safe in regards to copyright by attributing photos back to there original source:
Step 1 - Log on to 'Flickr' website.
Step 2 - Once you have chosen the image you want to use, scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see these options.
How to avoid image copyright issues
I stumbled across a very simple and quick way to make sure you avoid any copyright issues when it comes to uploading any images to your blog posts.
Step 1 - Once on 'Google Images' click on 'Advanced Image Search'
Step 2 - When the screen has loaded you will need to change the 'Usage Rights' drop down menu to read 'labeled for reuse'
Now when you search for the image you want, Google will only bring up pictures that can be used by anyone.
There are also other options, for example, if you require a picture that you wish to modify in any way.
Please note: You still may have to attribute photos to their original source even if they are labeled for use by anyone. This is important to remember!
How to write news features
In our lecture on Monday we discussed features and feature writing. These are the main feature format used in the news outside the designated 'feature' section. They shouldn't be confused with hard news stories and they are usually longer. Often they are usually located near or on the news pages of a newspaper.
Quite often they can be classed as 'wrap up' articles and a good example I found in one of today's tabloid papers was 'Ten Interesting Facts About Buttons' which was an article that used a news 'peg' of Jensen Button winning the world Formula One title.
I also managed to find 'Top Ten Tips for Writing Effective News Features from News USA which provides some interesting advice:
1. Write for your audience.
Your feature should appeal to a broad, general newspaper readership. All through the course we have been taught to avoid technical jargon and overly complicated sentences, news features are no exception.
2. Follow The Associated Press Stylebook, the universally accepted journalism standard.
Use this style and editors will be inclined to give your feature serious consideration. Break the rules and your feature may not place.
3. Make a keen statement in your first paragraph.
Features are all about grabbing the readers attention so a good idea is to lead with a question or a statistic that highlights the most important point of the feature.
4. Think in terms of “news you can use.”
Readers enjoy nothing more than to read information and tips that can help them and/or that they can apply to their daily lives. Articles along these lines could be very successful.
5. Avoid commercialism. If your feature reads like an ad or press release, editors won’t run it.
Product promotions don’t work well except around the holidays — and even then, they should be accompanied by consumer tips.
6. Remember, the shorter the better.
Editors at all publications have limited space to fill so he chances are your article will have to be trimmed down to fit the space you have been allocated.
7. Use quality photos or graphics.
We learnt that because of the lighter tone of the feature, they are often heavily reliant on photos and graphics. Include these in a feature to make it more appealing and pleasing on the eye.
8. Keep headlines and captions short and to the point.
News organisations often use standard typesetting guidelines, so headlines will need to be kept short but it is important to remember to include all the relevant information needed to lure the reader to the story.
9. End your feature with a Web site, e-mail address or phone number.
Readers need to know where they can get more information.
You can see the original top tips here: http://about.newsusa.com/corporate/Getting_Started/pdfs/top_10.pdf
