OJR: The Online Journalism Review

Cindy Royal

Austin, Texas

Homepage: http://www.cindyroyal.com

Cindy Royal is an Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University in San Marcos. She completed Ph.D. studies in Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin in 2005. Her career prior to academia included positions at Compaq Computer and NCR Corporation. Her research interests include the social and pedagogical implications of the Internet.

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These articles are the work of their author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of nor an assignment by OJR.

Developing an Effective User Experience

October 13, 2009
A few months ago, I wrote an article entitled “Making Media Social: News as User Experience”. I talked about the online trend, driven by social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, of users having the growing expectation of participation on the Web. Users want to be able to upload photos, comment on posts or videos and interact with graphics. They want to make connections with others who share the same interests. Some news organizations are experimenting in developing unique and meaningful user experiences that can satisfy these new user requirements, while others are just beginning to consider a foray into this area. While innovation is key, and there are no firm rules, I thought it might be helpful to discuss some considerations and questions that may help guide the process of developing user experiences that will be perceived as valuable by your users. More...

2 Comments | Archive Link

Inspiring journalism students to believe... they 'can do anything!'

August 18, 2009
Last week I experienced one of my proudest moments in the classroom. It was the last day of the summer session, and students in my Web design course were busily working in the computer lab on final multimedia projects. The room was filled with the sound of keyboards clacking and a hum of conversation. I was moving around the lab helping students troubleshoot the missing quotation mark in HTML or errant action on a Flash scene.

Suddenly, and without warning, one student, who had been working quietly, excitedly exclaimed, "I feel like I can do anything!" She was sitting in front of a computer screen, editing video in iMovie. Obviously proud of her creation, she was moved to this empowering declaration. Here she was, a female undergraduate student, getting excited about something she created on a computer and associating that with a general sense of agency and confidence. It warmed my heart to the core.

We have a unique opportunity in media education to train our students in advanced technology skills and concepts, particularly due to the high concentration of women in our discipline. I have discussed this opportunity before and continue to believe it is not only our responsibility but should be our discipline's mission to effectively impart communication technology skills to our students in a way that instills an innovative spirit and a sense of agency for influencing the direction of the profession. More...

3 Comments | Archive Link

Making media social: news as user experience

May 13, 2009
I live in Austin, Texas, and teach at Texas State University, a short drive down I-35 in San Marcos. One thing I look forward to every year with great anticipation is the annual South By Southwest conference that happens in mid-March. Many are aware of the gigantic music festival associated with this event, but a smaller group of tech and media aficionados know about the fantastic Interactive gathering that occurs just before the musicians come to town. It is, by far, the most important event my students and I attend each year. Emerging topics at SXSW quickly become the "next big thing" within a few years. While attending SXSWi this year, an emerging theme that I noticed was that of User Experience (UX). At least one panel had UX in it's title, and it was a common topic in many of the sessions and overheard in various hallway conversations. Where "content is king" was once the mantra of online publishing platforms, it now seems to have been replaced by "UX is king." I have shared this observation with many people, and am often met with an initial look of puzzlement followed by the question, "What do you mean by that?" It's a tough concept for people to grasp, particularly journalists, who traditionally have had control over every aspect of newspaper consumption, other than actually turning pages for readers. More...

7 Comments | Archive Link

Tech-savvy women seek support in classroom and newsroom

April 14, 2005
Educators can help promote the use of information technology by women by teaching it as a means to better communication, rather than an end unto itself.

5 Comments | Archive Link