This BBC news about Trump’s decision to close Voice of America has solid content but lacks key elements of effective online writing. It can be improved according to BASIC principles.
Brevity
Some paragraphs contain multiple ideas, making the article harder to scan quickly. For example, the section discussing the history of VOA and its role in countering propaganda could be more concise or structured as bullet points.
Adaptability
- Add relevant hyperlinks to statement (e.g., White House statement), VOA’s official website, and related news reports.
- Embed mutiple media formats to give users multiple ways to consume the story. It can add a timeline of VOA’s history to present key events concisely for mobile users.
Scannability
- There are no clear sections guiding the reader through key points. Use subheadings such as “Trump’s Executive Order,” “VOA’s History,” “Reactions from Journalists,” etc., to make sections clearer.
- The article contains only one image, It should add more relevent pictures to give opportunities to break up text and improbe the interface design. For examples:
Steve Lodge protests outside VOA headquarters, honoring his former correspondent father.
Interactivity
The article should include interactive elements such as polls, comment sections to encourage reader engagement and real-time discussion.
Community & Conversation
The article can embed tweets from journalists and affected VOA employees, feature diverse opinions, add calls to action, to foster community engagement and meaningful conversation.
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