The Technological Craze: Good or Bad?

Photo Credit: Jeff Waters

Some question the extent the web has taken over our lives; it’s a source of information, social networking, and so much more. 

Professor Amy Eisman, the Director of the Writing Programs in the School of Communication at American University, met with our class to discuss the landscape of the media world and how to appropriately write for the web.

Eisman began her professional career with an urban planning major, but when she started working at the Philadelphia Magazine, she says she was “bitten by the bug.”  She proceeded to work at USA Today during its 1982 launch, USA Weekend magazine, and AOL before coming to AU.

“The web has so much possibility…do you think it’s too much,” Eisman asked the class.  “We are doing this for you, you tell me.”  One member of the class commented on the information overload, joking that he stays up until 4 am each night, engrossed in everything provided.  Eisman responded, “You’re one of us Kyle, you’ve crossed to the dark side…you can never go back.” 

Although Eisman responded jokingly, the web does have a certain power to draw you in.  Eisman asked how often any of us go through the grocery line without stopping to look at the tabloids or gossip magazines; almost everyone responded with a resounding never.  But the tabloids aren’t the only ones who use tricks to grab the reader’s attention; websites use the same ones.  A few tricks Eisman recommended were to use everyday words people use, ask questions, and write in short, snappy sentences. 

It’s also important, according to Eisman, to write headlines so that Google and other search engines can find certain words.  Google is the “Oz behind the curtains.”

Text still matters.  Eisman says the eyes look for something they haven’t seen before, words such as mimic or probe. 

Whether you are writing for the web or anywhere else, use fewer words and get to the point right away.  Eisman says these aren’t tricks trying to fool you, just models on how to attract readers.   

 After Princess Diana’s death, the grievers went to Kensington Garden to show their support. “When something happens, people want to gather,” Eisman said. But the question now is where are they meeting? In this technological age, when tragedy strikes, people turn to the Internet.  After the Virginia Tech shootings, people went directly to the student website where students themselves were constantly updating, some even blogging entries while in lock-down during the attack. 

The Internet provides immediacy that no other type of media can.  Blogs in particular are writing more content in a chattier language, according to Eisman.

But technology does have its downsides.  In the middle of her presentation, Eisman’s Internet began to not corroborate.  “This is the part of our high-tech school that drives us crazy,” she said.   Whether you are annoyed with Internet speed or not, it has opened the door to a whole new method of communication.

For more information on Professor Amy Eisman, please visit her SOC faculty page.