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It’s All About the Story Journalism 350
It’s All About the Story
Journalism 350
It’s All About the Story
• Take charge of the story• Give it focused, selfish and obsessed attention• You’re the expert – you know the story best• Constantly think about it, step back and assess – Who should I talk to now?– What does it need?– What’s missing? – How can I take charge?
Two biggest issues
• Under-reported stories• Unfocused stories
Selecting the right media
It’s All About the Story
Wide range of options
• Text• Photos• Audio• Video• Graphics• Databases
Text
• Provides depth, background• Explains context, analyzes complex• Provides immediacy online• Allows for quick reaction from readers• Uses hyperlinks for more info
Examples of using text
• Provide background: FAQs, Bio box• Analysis: What does the news mean?• Pro/con: Allow for debate• Summaries
: Explains what a multimedia package is about• Curating with Storify: Big 10
Text is quick
Report as stories develop
What do photos do best?
Photos
• Capture a moment in time• Show something is happening• Display emotion• Tell truth without a filter
What does audio add?
Audio
• Captures emotion, inflection• Captures tone• Adds voice• Provides context• Voice of God – NPR
Audio slideshows
• Goes beyond single moment• Tells stories with beginning, middle and end• Layered – combining photo, audio
Slideshow examples
• Dooty Diva• Rotus – by Jeff Zeleny
What does video do best?
Video
• Captures action, motion• Lets subjects tell their own stories• Portrays drama of a story• Explains how things work, how to do
something
Video examples
–Oscar the featherless bird - South Florida Sun Sentinel–Roping the Wind–Obama–ABC balloonist–Pig on a tramp
Graphics
• Explain complex information• Interpret numbers• Help readers visualize information• Music formats• Unemployment by county
Databases
• Personalizes information• Provides interactivity• Keeps readers engaged• Homicide in LA• Parkersburg tornado
Think about how to tell stories
• Multimedia storytelling
Ask these questions
• Is your story dense with information?• Does it require a lot of background?• Does it have strong visuals?• Does it have strong sound?• Is there action?• Does it have a lot of numbers?• Would an interactive make it personal?
Snow fall
• http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek
More examples / resources
• Check my Delicious account• Mindy McAdams cheat sheet for multimedia• Knight Digital Center tutorial
