Overview

This standard is about writing and editing text-based material for interactive media projects.

This is about the copy that users will see, as opposed to the underpinning narrative, and could range from short user instructions, hints, prompts or interface messages, to entire web pages. It could involve responding to a detailed brief, sketchy brief, or writing up an original idea for an interactive media project.

Interactive media projects can involve any type of interactive media content, products or services for multi-platform or multi-channel use, including, but not restricted to, games, websites, applications or online marketing campaigns and can also include the use of immersive technology. (Immersive technology can include, but is not restricted to, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR).)

This standard is for anyone who writes or edits copy for interactive media projects.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. make sure the content and style of text-based material is in line with project requirements
  2. write in a style suitable for the target audience, the purpose of the communication and the delivery medium
  3. maintain a consistent style both within texts and between related texts
  4. use correct grammar, appropriate punctuation and accurate spelling for the language in which you are writing
  5. structure text-based content so it is easy to read and navigate
  6. structure text-based content in an appropriate way for delivery medium(s)
  7. follow relevant writing conventions, style guides and policies
  8. produce appropriate captions or descriptions to accompany any assets used
  9. maintain control of the direction and quality of text-based content
  10. seek advice from appropriate people about accuracy, legality, usability and fitness for purpose of text
  11. provide clear, consistent and accessible wording for any hyperlinks, and clearly specify link targets
  12. specify appropriate metadata when required
  13. proof-read your copy to check for spelling, grammatical, typographic or other errors
  14. check that facts and figures quoted are accurate
  15. comply with relevant legislation concerning text content

 

Knowledge and understanding 

You need to know and understabd:

  1. how to clarify the purpose of the text and its target audience
  2. the principles of grammar, punctuation and spelling for the language in which you are writing and tools and methods for checking them
  3. different styles of writing and how these impact on different audiences
  4. the impact of diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, ethics, emotional intelligence and behavioural psychology on projects and how to create text that is appropriate for and easily accessible by its target audience
  5. the effect of real-time animation on copy requirements
  6. issues that can arise from localisation and internationalisation of content on the different cultures involved
  7. relevant constraints, possibilities and opportunities offered by the target medium or platform for communicating with text
  8. how to check the reliability and currency of information sources
  9. when and from whom, to seek advice on the accuracy, legality, usability and fitness for purpose of text
  10. the relevance of metadata, and any metadata schema or classification system that you should apply to the material you produce including keywords and descriptions
  11. how to write text that takes account of search-engine optimisation techniques while remaining attractive and readable for humans
  12. how to write text for a non-linear medium.
  13. any relevant conventions, tone of voice, style guides or policies that you need to follow
  14. relevant legislation concerning intellectual property, copyright, libel, and obscenity
  15. usability issues and relevant accessibility standards and guidelines
  16. any constraints or considerations arising from use of an on-line content management system or content database