Basic HTML

All web pages are written with some form of HTML, which allows you to format text, add graphics, sound and video in a text file that any computer can read.

HTML has two essential features: hypertext and universality. Hypertext allows you to create a link that takes

visitors to other web page. Universality means any computer can read a web

page.

Why Learn HTML?

Learning HTML provides emerging journalists with an opportunity to overcome any fear of technical jargon.

Learning HTML reinforces the importance of precise writing. Blow a backslash or put a quote mark in the wrong place and your web page doesn't work correctly. An "F" on a newswriting assignment for a misspelled name delivers a necessary negative lesson in the importance of getting every keystroke correct.

Web page building blocks

A web page is made up of three main components: Text Content: headers and paragraphs More complex content: links, images, etc. Markup: Instructions that explain how the content is

displayed

What you need to know

As journalist, you won’t have to know all of the ins and outs of HTML and building web sites.

Most newspaper sites us a CMS or content management system to manage their sites. Knowing the basics of HTML is helpful when working within a CMS.