A resource for news innovators powered by American Press Institute
Complexity: Beginner
Article Complexity Bar Graph

Why journalists need to learn SEO

Good SEO practices help journalists ensure that their stories reach the widest audience possible.

Editor’s Note: This article summary was produced by ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence text chatbot made by the company OpenAI. The summaries were edited for style and clarity and checked for accuracy by Caitlin Dewey and Emily Ristow, of API’s Better News.

Journalists need to master good SEO practices to ensure that their content reaches a wider audience by appearing higher in search engine results. This not only boosts visibility but also enhances the impact of their work. 

Good SEO practices include researching and using relevant keywords, crafting compelling headlines and incorporating internal and external links. Additionally, understanding SEO analytics and tools, such as Google Trends and Keyword Planner, can help journalists identify trending topics and optimize their content accordingly, making it more discoverable and engaging for readers. Implementing meta descriptions, optimizing images and ensuring mobile-friendliness are also crucial for effective SEO. For more detailed information, check out the articles on RJI Online and Journalism.co.uk.