Rewrite of Women and Spirituality Conference article for the Web

In our research class, we decided to rewrite Robb Murray's article "'Politics of Food,' other hot topics at Women and Spirituality Conference" from the Mankato Free Press.

This exercise was designed to get us thinking in terms of writing for the Web, often times including SMR's (social media releases). In general, pieces for the Web need to be:

• shorter, with shorter sentences: According to readability expert Jakob Nielsen, readers do not read material on the Web. They scan. Therefore, keep information on the Web brief and to the point.
• free of fancy, embellished and extravagant words (like the ones I just used): Showy words are unnecessary and cause readers to lose interest. Keep things simple.
• basic in punctuation: Stick with periods, commas and apostrophes. Anything else clutters the information.
• considerate of appearance. In other words, remember readers are drawn to articles that look easy to understand and quick to read: This can be accomplished with lists and bullet points.
• mindful of SEO (search engine optimization): Remember to use keywords throughout your article, including in your headline, so others will be able to find your piece on the Web.
• accommodating to those who want more info: Because articles should be brief and concise, make sure to provide links for people who want to learn more.

Keeping all this in mind, here is the rewrite of Robb Murray's Free Press article:

Women and Spirituality Conference brings 'Politics of Food' discussion to Minnesota State Mankato

10.25.09—MANKATO, Minn.—The Women and Spirituality Conference comes to Minnesota State University, Mankato with a keynote address by physicist and author, Vandana Shiva.

Join Shiva for her discussion on "The Gendered Politics of Food." The talk will be held Saturday, Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom.

Other sessions featured during the conference include "Nurturing Spirit by Embracing Inner Awareness in Public School Setting" and "Finding the Balance of Masculine and Feminine Power: Astrological Keys for Healing Mother Earth and Ourselves."

Vandana has founded an international college in Doon Valley, India and Navdanya, a national Indian-based movement to protect resources and promote organic farming.

She has also written some books including "Stolen Harvest: Hijacking of the Global Food Supply."

The conference includes more than 100 workshops and discussions covering many topics.

Visit the Gender and Women's Studies Web site for more information about this event.