Multimedia JournalismMultimedia JournalismOverview of Internet Reporting and

Multimedia Storytelling

Sec. C1 - Jan. 26, 2009

Why are you here?

South Park ep. 12.06 – “Over Logging”

Why are you here?

• You’re here because as journalists, you need to know how to reach your audience.

• According to Pew, the internet has surpassed newspapers as a leading source of news.– 40 percent of people get most of their news from the

Web, which is up from 24 percent from 2007.– Virtually every media sector apart from the internet is

slowly losing Americans’ attention– A recent Pew survey says “Journalists are ready —

even eager — to embrace new technologies”!

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 1

• Choosing a story – The best candidates for multimedia packages are:

• Multidimensional: Video, audio, infographics/charts, etc--Interactive elements can all help enhance the story

• Nonlinear: Newspaper readership drops with each graf, so why not let the audience jump around from tidbit to tidbit?

– As in print, multiple entry points are important.

– In a good package, there is no “first part” or “second part”: Engage audiences by letting them look at what’s most important to them first.

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 1

• Choosing a story – class discussion– A journalist wants to travel all over the lower 48.

How do you make his road trip engaging?– A year after the Viginia Tech shootings, you’re

asked to talk to survivors and people who knew the dead. How do you tell their stories?

– Your organization is covering the ins-and-outs of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. There are lots of details to share here, so how do you do it?

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 1

• Choosing a story– Case study: Storm that Drowned a City

• Each feature covers a different aspect of Hurricane Katrina: Users can choose the stories that interest them

• Nonlinear parts: The stories don’t depend on one another to be understood, and neither do individual parts within the stories. See “Anatomy of Katrina”

– Video, audio, images and graphics are used where necessary.– Note: A long text piece is broken up into readable sections.– Note: Nothing gets buried. Tabs and links are shortcuts.

• We won’t do anything this advanced, but you should study it. What makes this effective? Which principles can you use?

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 2

• Creating a storyboard– According to NewsU, you should fashion a storyboard

of multimedia possibilities before heading out into the field.

• Conduct preliminary interviews, get a basic idea of what to expect in the field, look up anything your sources have published in print or on the Web.

• Collect visuals -- photos, videos, maps and graphics -- from your sources or from the Web to get an idea of potential story components. Track down any previous stories on the topic -- print, video, radio or Web.

- Storm that Drowned a City resources page

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 2

• Creating a storyboard– Define the elements: Divide the story up into

parts such as a nut graf explaining your focus, background, information on people involved, etc.

• Are there compelling visuals?• Is there a process involved that you can illustrate with

graphics? (How a hurricane forms, for example)• Would a map be useful?• Etc.

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 2

• Creating a storyboard– Identify the media

• Video is best for showing action; it takes audiences to a place central to the story.

• Audio: If it’s good, it adds to video and slideshows; if it’s bad, it takes away. Audiences forgive bad video before they’ll forgive bad audio.

• Text is good for binding a story together by offering background information or any other details that can’t/shouldn’t be conveyed through other media. (Example: A video of New Orleans political history might not be as effective or informative as an article.)

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 2

• Creating a storyboard– Identify the media

• Photographs are the best media for displaying strong emotion and keeping the mood.

– Video goes by quickly; photos illustrate the point of the story– Add audio and you enhance the mood; make it panoramic

and you put the reader there..

• Graphics show how stuff works– They can chart important figures, display abstract ideas– Animate them and they can take you where cameras can’t go

(the eye of a hurricane, inside our cells, etc.)

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 2

• Creating a storyboard– Identify the media

• Maps can show you important locations such as war zones, or they can be coupled with other information such as homicide statistics – keep this in mind for when we make Google maps.

– Actually storyboard the concept now• You’re working with a lot of media elements. The more

complicated your piece gets, the better off you’ll be sketching out your different media and thinking about how users will navigate through them.

– If you don’t, you’ll risk burying the media and confusing users.

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 3

• Reporting with multimedia– You’re a multimedia journalist heading out into

the field for a big story that’ll utilize all of the elements we just discussed. What do you think you’ll need?

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 3

• Reporting with multimedia– You’re a multimedia journalist heading out into the

field for a big story that’ll utilize all of the elements we just discussed. What do you think you’ll need?

• Equipment can include: Batteries, cables, computer, audio recorder, video and still cameras, microphones, memory sticks and tapes, tripod, external hard drive, cell phone, lenses, GPS, etc.

• You’re a multimedia journalist now, but don’t forget the old school: Bring notebooks, writing utensils, your AP stylebook, etc.

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 4

• Editing for the Web– Video:

• Keep ‘em short—AJR reported in 2008 a survey showing the average length of video elements on newspaper sites being 2-3 minutes. (Editing can take 3-4 hours.)

• It’s a lot like television: Show talking heads for a few seconds, then switch to "B-roll,” etc.

• Because the Web typically uses a low frame rate—usually 15 fps rather than 30--avoid action shots with a lot of movement or shots that capture nuance. They usually display poorly on the Web.

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 4

• Editing for the Web– Audio:

• Use only high-quality audio. – One exception: Very old/historic recordings necessary to your

piece. Listen to examples from NOVA’s ”Forgotten Genius”– Use subtitles with the audio if you have no other options or

to reinforce an important point. – Avoid using background music for straight news pieces. Web

compression will already take away from your sound, and music will make it worse.

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 4

• Editing for the Web– Text:

• The comfort zone for print people--the medium they fall back on when they're unsure what else to do

• Text is fine for headers, captions, a good nut graf, and background, but be sure to supplement it with audio and/or visuals if it makes sense.

– Remember how newspaper readership falls with each graf? By shortening your text/breaking it up with other elements, you can keep people interested.

– Text-only works best for political/economic stories, analysis, op-ed pieces and short updates. (It wouldn’t kill you to throw in a photo, though.)

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 4

• Editing for the Web– Photos: The Web is a visual medium, so be sure to

include photos where possible.• Use photos to replace 1,000 words. Images aren’t just

there to make things pretty—they help explain things.• Photos can be used two ways:

– Individually, to set a mood– In groups, to tell stories as with "slide shows.” (See how this

slide show takes a complicated topic and simplifies it with pictures?)

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 4

• Editing for the Web– Graphics: These aren’t just still images anymore.

• You can make graphics interactive (clickable maps, navigable locations rendered in 3D, etc.).

• Creating your own interactivity takes time. Generally, Flash animated graphics are the centerpiece (if not the only part) of a story, whereas, a Google map usually supplements a larger story.

– Think TimeSpace Inauguration Map versus typical map use (where the map is just part of the story, used to illustrate where something or things happened).

Multimedia Storytelling in 5 Stepsstep 5

• Producing the story– Multimedia journalists have multiple editors:

• There are your actual editors, and then there are your designers and Web developers. You can’t—and aren’t usually expected to—do it all yourself (except in this class).

• Developers/designers fine-tune the layout, help with technical glitches and make sure the presentation follows the site's style.

• In a real-life scenario, you will probably have open communication with these guys. They’ll often do as much work as you, only without the byline—be nice.

Eyetrack III(Speaking of design…)

• News Web sites have been around since the 1990s, but how effective are their layouts?

• For Eyetrack III, Poynter recorded 46 people’s eye movements as they observed different site mockups.

Eyetrack III(Speaking of design…)

• The study shows that reading news on the Web is different than with print. – There are too many elements involved for us to go

Left-Right / Top-Bottom.– On the Web, we generally start at the upper left

read down and end at the upper right.

Eyetrack III(Speaking of design…)

Eyetrack III(Speaking of design…)

• We spend about one second per line.– For whatever reason, the left side is generally read

more than the right.– Short paragraphs and introductory paragraphs are

read more frequently.– If you want people to read—not scan—consider

smaller type. The study found that large/header type promotes skimming.

– Next slide: Red shows where people focused the most; green shows what they scanned or ignored.

Eyetrack III(Speaking of design…)

FURTHER READING: EyeTrack III – Keep these ideas in mind when you create your Web sites.

Sampling of well designed sites

• It can be a matter of opinion, but there’s some consensus on…– Sites that know who their parents are.

• The New York Times• MSNBC• USA Today

– Readable sites • Christian Science Monitor: Balance, easy on eyes• CNN: Many headers, few blurbs—gives you an idea of

top story content in seconds

And on the other end of things…

• Some call it the worst designed site on the Web… others say it can’t be for real….– Gird yer loins, class. I bring you: havenworks.com– Why do I torment you so?

• Most news organizations have learned by now that a good web designer can go a long way.

• Many designs work, many don’t—it depends on your audience and the kinds of information you’re trying to convey. In this case, you’re not reaching anyone.

• I don’t want your sites to look like this.

Writing for the Web

• Almost everything you do in this class—including your first piece—will incorporate text.

• Although we’ve talked about text in brief already, here are a few rules you should keep in mind as you go through this course…

Writing for the Web

• Rules for Internet Writing:– Keep paragraphs short (one topic)– Use informative subheads– Hyperlink to other articles/sites you’re referencing

• Most news sites do this by linking words like “Iraq” to lists of related articles. (Example.)

– Use bulleted lists (if you need them) to break things up

– Key point: Long blocks of type are deadly!

Writing for the Web

• Internet Writing is a combination of print and broadcast– Like print:

• Inverted pyramid style preferred• Expandable news hole• Write to be read rather than heard.

– Like Broadcast:• Conversational tone• Short, declarative sentences / Simple words• Immediacy is important (people check the Web for breaking

news)

Writing for the Web

• Improving scanability / readability – Highlight key words and phrases (this can include

hyperlinking important phrases for context)– Use subheads to break up text and divide story– Use meaningful links—if you can summarize an issue

succinctly by offering a link for more info, do.

• Make it timely and relevant– On Breaking stories, get info out fast– Add on as story develops– Add timestamps so you don’t have to rewrite

Today’s assignments

• Create a Web site at sites.google.com• Tutorial• Sites can be customized--examples:

– Alexander’s portfolio -- Portfolio– Raven Bradley Film -- Claire’s Gallery

• For next week/Feb 2.: Report on an issue of interest to you and post it on your Web site using the guidance on format and content discussed in class.– E-mail me your site URL and bring a print out of your

article to class. Prepare to discuss it.