A problem of category

What is this thing called web content? I fear most people still believe that it's something as trivial as a whitebait in a bucket.

Fresh whitebait is transparent. If you don't look hard, you can only see the container, and not the thing contained.

I edit this category for the Open Directory: "Arts: Writers Resources: Non-Fiction: Corporate"

And I also edited a sub-category: "Arts: Writers Resources: Non-Fiction: Corporate: Online"

Out of the blue, the sub-category was deleted, with this message: "http://editors.dmoz.org/Arts/Writers_Resources/Non-Fiction/Corporate/Online is being deleted as it makes no sense to have a category called 'online.'"

Turned out to be a misunderstanding. A DMOZ editor thought it meant that the resources were online. . . which they all are, naturally.

So I renamed and reinstated the sub-category making the meaning more obvious, if a little too narrow: "Arts: Writers Resources: Non-Fiction: Corporate: Web Content".

The sub-category collects resources for business communicators publishing material on web sites and intranets.

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Where do web writing resources belong?

This is an interesting puzzle.

In the Dewey system for libraries, no problem. Clearly, web writing is a sub-category of business writing or corporate communications, in the Non-Fiction department and operating any business from shopping to education. The system differentiates between commercial sites and "Resources" - and so it should.

In a library, you don't find brochures from local corporate communications firms or web designers. You just have the product, not the PR.

Online writing is now mainstream business writing for staff in business, government and education.

Complications arise because web writing is semi-technical. Web content writers and editors require a little knowledge of web architecture, conventions, technology and search engines.

But these writers are not technical writers or IT specialists: they just write the documents. They are mainly non-technical employees located in various departments of an organisation.

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Recognition of web content writers

Originally, web writing was seen as something IT people could do with one hand tied behind their backs. The quality of content was ignored, and much ghastly writing went online.

That was the very time when people were struggling to figure out categories for online directories. They attempted to future-proof directories against unimagined developments (of which the growth of web content writing is just one example).

Various technical professionals now take web content seriously, and see it as part of their job: usability experts, web site optimisers, content managers, government accessibility officers, and web designers for instance.

But other people actually write the content. Nowadays, pretty much anyone who writes for work (memos, policy, instructions, marketing, transactions, teaching) is actually writing content for the Web or intranet.

Imprint of web history

The location of relevant sites in the Open Directory (and doubtless other directories too) reflects the development of the Web.

Web writing was originally perceived as an offshoot of creative writing, so "Arts: Writers Resources" focuses on creative writers. As for business and government documents, people didn't realise they needed special editing for the Web.

The Web became a mighty channel for promoting and transacting business, hence important commercial categories like "Business: Business Services: Communications: Writing and Editing".

The container (the web site or intranet) has always received more attention than the thing contained (online content). So resources for corporate web writers are now sprinkled throughout the directory in commercial categories too technical for most writers.

Examples:
Computers: Internet: Web Design and Development: Web Usability
Reference: Knowledge Management: Information Architecture
Business: Marketing and Advertising: Consulting: Industry Specific: Web
Computers: Software: Internet: Site Management: Content Management: Content Providers

Don't get me wrong! I'm glad those sites are in the directory, wherever - but I'm even gladder that the Open Directory has restored our own category.

Naturally no directory wants sub-categories multiplying endlessly, until there's one for everybody's hobby.

The marvel is that the Open Directory works so well.

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