Robert Huesca

Department of Communication
Trinity University

Project Synopsis

This project involved the creation of materials for the World Wide Web that introduce the notion of "hypertext" and its implications for journalistic expression. The site provides an overview of basic definitions, characteristics, and research sources for hypertext theory. In addition, the site showcases student projects that contrast contemporary examples of online news with their own hypertext designs. The student work is complemented with audio files featuring various students explaining their thoughts about hypertext. Finally, the site introduces a research project that examined readers' responses to online news that contrasted conventional, web articles with redesigned hypertexts. This aspect of the site includes original documents, such as the interview protocol and human subjects application form.

The purpose of this site is to advance practical and scholarly understanding of hypertext by providing a succinct introduction to the topic. Furthermore, the student assignments and the research project provide examples of journalistic hypertexts that students, faculty, and professionals can explore to develop a clearer understanding of this new electronic form.