Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Journalism Website

When starting a journalism website, common mistakes to avoid include:

• Copying or rewriting news from other sources without original research or proper attribution, which can lead to lazy content or plagiarism. Instead, chase the story yourself and find your own angle.

• Lack of clarity in writing, such as vague descriptions or convoluted relationships, which confuse readers. News articles should be clear and straightforward.

• Including too much or too little detail—too few details cause loss of facts, while too many irrelevant details overwhelm readers. Focus on essential information related to the headline.

• Inaccurate or partial quoting, which damages trust and can misrepresent sources. Always quote accurately and keep interview recordings as proof.

• Poor headline choices that are vague or uninformative. Headlines should be specific, literal, and clearly convey the article’s content to attract and inform readers.

• Writing in an inappropriate tone for the audience. Journalism websites should maintain a professional tone suitable for their readers, avoiding overly casual or promotional language.

• Overly long or unfocused content. Keep articles concise and to the point, avoiding unnecessary background or filler that distracts from the main story.

• Not following journalistic writing styles or formats, such as Associated Press (AP) style, which helps maintain professionalism and readability.

• Neglecting SEO basics, like deep-linking to specific pages rather than general homepages, which improves user experience and search rankings.

• Failing to include clear calls to action when appropriate, which can reduce reader engagement and missed opportunities for interaction or conversion.

Avoiding these mistakes will help establish credibility, clarity, and engagement for a journalism website from the start.