ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we drew a distinction between fixed interactive media and web-based interactive media that consist of pages of HTML code residing on a server. At one stage, it seemed a good idea to write a chapter on each. In the end, it became clear that the media writing involved is independent of the computer code or the type of authoring tool employed in production. The same distinction applies here that related to our consideration of linear media when we found it useful to separate the writing in Part 2 : Solving Communications Problems with Visual Media from the writing considered in Part 3 : Entertaining with Visual Media. It is more helpful to group the types of interactive media according to their broad objectives. Some websites are predominantly informational and commercial, but others are dedicated to entertainment, whether it be online journals, blogs, e-books, or online video games. Put another way, it is useful to separate, once more, writing that solves communication problems from writing that trawls the imagination to amuse, divert, and tell stories. Some web portals certainly combine both functions. A third category would be online journalism. Not only are most daily newspapers in America also published online, but television news organizations also edit the same stories for their websites and web portals linked to the journalistic side of their empires.
