We live in a visual society.

We are a society of non-readers.

We would rather look at this:

Than read this:Cell Phones Not Just for Talking AnymoreBy Jim Hickey, ABC News

Somebody might want to think about giving cell phones another name, after a new survey of people in 21 countries found that the little devices are commonly used for more and more purposes.

"People really are using their cell phones for way more than just phone calls now," said Richard Wike, associate director of the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, which conducted the survey.

The Global Attitudes Project surveyed 21 countries to find out how people world-wide are using cell phones today. Most everyone makes phone calls, but a huge number of people use them for other tasks.

"In particular, they're texting," Wike told ABC News. Fully 75 percent of the cell phone users in those countries say they use their smart-phones to send and receive text messages. Texting is most common among the poorest nations surveyed. For example, 96 percent of cell phone owners in Indonesia and 89

percent of people in Kenya say they use their phones for texting. Half of the people in the global survey say they take pictures with their cell phones. The Japanese are the most likely of all the people

surveyed to do that: 75 percent say they use their phones as cameras. Close to a quarter of all those surveyed say they use their phones to surf the web. In some countries the number is higher. "In places like Israel, Japan and the United States, you've got more than four-in-10 cell phone owners who say they do use their cell

phone to access the Internet," Wike said. In broadening the survey, Wike also says that social networking is very popular around the world, but that "it tends to be more

common in wealthier countries." He said the reason for that is that people have more access to the Internet in those more developed nations. "Germany, France and Japan are the only countries polled where more Internet users say they do not go on social networking sites than

say they do," according to the Pew survey. Most of the people who are comfortable with and who use digital technology around the globe are under 30 years old and well

educated. "The more educated are more likely to use their cell phone for different purposes and more likely to engage in social networking," Wike

said. This digital multi-tasking, Wike said, is only going to grow. "As cell phone technology spreads across the globe, as more and more people are able to access the Internet through their cell phones,

we're going to see a variety of uses, and this is going to become more and more common globally," he said.

But we still want information. And we want it fast.

Infographics (short for information graphics)

combine illustration and information into

easily digestible packages.

In vast quantities, text

looks really DULL.

Consumption of moosemeat declined significantly during the first three decades of the ninth century. Maurading hordes of Vikings averaged 14.3 pounds per capita of moosemeat monthly during that period, while consumption among Druids climbed to 22.8 pounds (for males) and 16.3 pounds (for females) during winter months, up from 15.5 pounds in summer.

It’s quick. It’s visual. It’s

precise. It’s non-text.

Perfect for non-readers.

So why is this so important to you as editors/writers/designers/advisers

?

The sky is the limit when it

comes to types of infographics.

ww

Before you begin, ask

yourself a few questions…

What’s bogging down the text?

A series of numbers? Details? Dates? Definitions?

Comparisons? Can info be pulled out and played up?

What’s missing from this story?

What will complete the picture for those who read it– or

attract readers who might otherwise turn the page?

What data needs clarification?Statistics? Geographical

details? History? Does the story overestimate the reader’s knowledge?

A few tips for infographics:1.Collect and edit data

carefully2.Keep it simple.3.Keep it accurate.4.Label it clearly5.Dress it up!

Make your infographic interactive.

Who says there even needs to be

a story? Your graphic can tell the story itself.

So where do you start?

Get small, user-friendly sidebars and

fact boxes into stories more often.

Maestro your stories.

Smart packaging doesn’t happen by

accident. Require or encourage it!

Make graphic formats

goofproof.Create easy-to-use, plug-and-chug templates and train staff to use them.

Make reporters responsible for

graphics.Most of your smartest

sidebars are mostly text: tables, lists, Q&A’s. Train

them!

Get inspired.Look at magazines and Pinterest for infographic ideas.

Try It Out:Read the story handed out to you and sketch out an infographic on the back to enhance or replace the text.

Questions? For this presentation, go to slideshare.net/phsview or DM @mehughes for the link

Thank you!