Intended for new media and journalism students at Mercer County Community College in Prof. Holly Johnson's classes. The goal of this presentation is to introduce students to the different kinds of infographics used in print journalism.
1. Sidebars and Infographics Journalism 1 + 2 + New Media Prof.
Holly Johnson 2012
2. DEFINITIONS SIDEBAR = Any short feature that accompanies a
longer journalistic story. INFOGRAPHIC = Blends text and images to
convey information visually.
3. What is the purpose of sidebars andinfographics?1. They
carve up complicated material into bite- sized pieces.2. They
offered attractive alternatives to gray text.3. They let writers
move key information out of the narrative flow and into a highly
visible spot.4. They are entertaining.
4. Fast Fact Box Nuggets pulled from the story to give readers
a quick grasp of the who, what, when, where or why.
5. Fast Facts
6. FastFacts
7. Bio Box Brief profiles of people, places, products or
organizations itemized by key characteristics.
8. BioBoxes
9. Glossary A list of specialized words with definitions to
help clarify complex topics.
10. Glossary
11. Checklist A list of questions or guidelines that itemize
key points or help readers assess something.
12. Checklist
13. Checklist
14. Quiz A short list of questions that let readers interact
with a story by testing their understanding of the topic.
15. Quiz
16. Q&A A way to ask and answer hypothetical questions or
capture an interviews dialog exactly as it was said.
17. Q&A
18. Q&A
19. Quote Collection A series of relevant comments on a topic
by newsmakers, readers or random passers-by.
20. Quote Collection
21. Quote Collection
22. Fever Chart A way to measure changing quantities over time
by blotting key statistics as points on a graph.
23. Fever Chart
24. Bar Chart A way to compare two or more items visually by
representing them as columns parked side by side.
25. Bar Chart
26. Pie Chart A way to compare the parts that make up a whole
usually measuring money or population percentages.
27. Pie Chart
28. Pie Chart
29. Table A way to arrange data into columns or rows so readers
can make side-by-side comparisons.
30. Table
31. Ratings A list of people or products (sports teams, movies
etc.) that lets critics (in opinion pieces) make predictions or
evaluations.
32. Ratings
33. Ratings
34. Timeline A chronological table or list of events
highlighting key moments in history.
35. Timeline
36. Step-by-Step Guide A brief how-to that explains a complex
process by walking readers through it one step at a time.
37. Step-by-Step Guide
38. Diagram A plan or drawing designed to show how something
works or to explain key parts of an object or process.
39. Diagram
40. Map A quick way to give readers geographical information by
showing the location of events relevant to a story.
41. Map
42. Map
43. Graphics Guidelines Keep it simple Keep it accurate Label
it clearly Dress it up.
44. Keep it SimpleHaving 14 differentcategories on the piechart
is just plainconfusing and evenmore so when all ofthem are
presentedin black and white.
45. Keep it AccurateTall bars should bebig numbers andshort
bars smallones; a bar thatstwice as tall as itsneighbor should
beworth two times asmuch.
46. Dress it UpAdd effects, photos,illustrations and colorbut
use them to labelthe data, not just fordecoration.
47. Before you begin, ask yourself? Whats missing from this
story? Whats bogging down the text? What data needs clarification?
Will this sidebar or infographic idea really add something?