Why learn xhtml? Due to the profusion of advanced web design tools available to the new media journalist, it may be tempting to overlook the value of learning xhtml, the absolute basics of web design. However, it is in fact extremely important, because xhtml forms the building blocks of any work done in new media, and is the underlying common language which links all aspects of the emerging field. Firstly, it is not enough for a new media journalist to simply be proficient in the journalistic aspects of new media (eg: writing for the internet, or how to choose video footage for the internet) – for the web site to work as a dynamic package, one must master all the technical aspects of online journalism. Secondly, if one is to use powerful web design programs such as Fireworks or Dreamweaver, one should have an understanding of the fundamentals (xhtml), so that these packages are used merely as aids to enhance one’s ability to create web pages. Bus Kraus points out that knowledge of xhtml allows one to edit the code while one is using these programs, to allow for creativity and innovation. Templates can be personalised and customized to suit the individual needs of the designer. He also says that the ability to edit code gives makes it possible to “create optimized easy-to-manage web sites that upload and download faster, and enhance search engine optimization”, because one can do away with unnecessary and superfluous code. Knowing xhtml also helps one to learn other markup languages such as XML, SVG, SMIL and RSS more easily, as they rely on the same syntax. This is useful to any new media journalist, because one has more abilities and can manipulate a variety of coding languages. It is also particularly useful for new media journalists to learn xhtml because it makes one more independent of web design programs. If one is on a tight deadline and there is no access to these applications, a journalist can generate news from any computer, as one is able to use basic standard programs (such as Notepad) to create a basic webpage.
Bud Kraus 2000 - 2007 TryNet, Inc. 5 Good Reasons to learn XHTML and CSS.
http://www.joyofcode.com/reasons_to_learn.html
Intro to XHTML .A Tutorial for the Beginner.
http://www.sarahdopp.com/docs/Dopp_XHTML_Tutorial.pdf
Top XHTML. Learn XHTML Tutorial.
http://www.topxml.com/xhtml/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Paragraphs!!
How come you NML kids are so scared of them? they offer a good feature of breaking up concepts and thoughts into blocks of thinking/argument.
Otherwise an interesting post.
Lauri
Just ran into your article http://lauri-seeing-stars.blogspot.com/2007/02/why-learn-xhtml.html explaining why one needs to learn XHTML to new media journalists.
Completely agree with you. The reasons you gave are strong and valid and I thank you for pointing these out. XHTML is fundamental. You can't do much of anything on the web unless you know XHTML. And here's the good news. It's not the difficult. And here's the better news. You can't do the fun stuff -- styling and laying out pages with Cascading Style Sheets -- unless you know XHTML.
XHTML is like Biology 101. We all want to be doctors but first we need the master the basics -- the 101. Learn the basics well and you will be in very good shape!!
I've learned how to write in XHTML and I don't know any other way. Word for Windows? What is that?
All the best to you!!
Bud Kraus
Post a Comment