StorytellingSelecting the Right Media

What does text do best?Depth, backgroundContext, analysisOnline – immediacyOnline – allows for reactionOnline – hyperlinks to additional

information

TextStories or aspects of stories that lend themselves to text: Background information - a FAQ can be a very effective way to give people background information.

Analysis and explanation

Pros and cons of an issue

History - although a graphical timeline can be more effective.

Text

Thumbnails for profiles - biographical facts about people in a story.

Summaries - important with a multimedia package to tell people what the package or page is about.

Breaking news - the quickest way to get information out; most efficient way for people to scan it for what's happening now.

Report as story develops

Report as story develops

The Lede

Online – Quick updates

What does a photo do best?Captures a moment in timeShows something is happeningProvides emotional impactTells truth without a filter

Photos

Stories or aspects of stories that lend themselves to photos: Reflection - if it's a story you want someone to reflect on.

Emotions - photos are good for stories that are very emotional. Photos can evoke strong emotions.

Central characters in a story - if you want the viewer to reflect on who the person is, rather than seeing how they behave. A photograph gives the viewer a sense of a person. 

PhotosCentral place in a story - a photograph gives a sense of a place and opportunity to reflect on it.

More intimate than using video.

Example: Natural disaster coverage. Take viewer there with video while things are happening, and then use photos to take the viewer to the scene in the aftermath, so the viewer can reflect. 

PhotosPanoramas are sometimes a very effective way of taking the viewer to a place and immersing them in it.

51st and Telegraph, Oakland, CA - UC Berkeley Journalism School News21 project

What about an audio slideshow?Uses visuals, goes beyond a single

momentLayered (adds dimension of audio)Because of audio:

Captures sound, tone, voice.Captures emotion, inflection.Gives you context.

Audio slideshow examples Long JourneyDooty DivaOne in Eight Million – New York Times

What does video do best?Portrays action, motionLets subjects tell their own stories

VideoStories or aspects of stories that lend themselves to video: Action - natural disasters, sporting events, dance performances, etc.

Central place in a story – video takes you there and gives you a sense of what a place is like.

Central characters in a story – video lets you see and hear them and how they behave. Especially use video if they’re interesting or animated.

VideoDrama - not so much an emotional moment, but a

story that’s part of larger drama.

How things work or how to do something - video is good for simple processes of things with a lot of moving parts.

Video examples

Oscar the featherless bird - South Florida Sun Sentinel

Pig on a tramp

ABC balloonist

What does a graphic do best?Explains complex informationExplains numbersHelps readers visualize information

Graphics and Maps

Stories or aspects of stories that lend themselves to graphics or maps: Statistics and data

• Another example - How Different Groups Spend Their Day – NY Times

• Unemployment by county

How things work or how to do something - graphics are especially good for describing complex processes (video better for

Graphics and Maps

Where humans can’t go - stories about space, microbiology, etc.

History - timelines are especially effective ways of showing the historical events

Geo-locational events and stories - can be plotted on a map so the viewer immediately has a sense of where something happened.

Climbing Kilimanjaro

What does a database do?Personalizes informationProvides interactivityKeeps readers engagedParkersburg tornado

Think like a multimedia journalistIs your story dense with information?Does it require a lot of background?Does it have strong visuals?Does it have strong sound component?Is there action?Does it have a lot of numbers?Would an interactive help explain it?

Multimedia storytelling

Plenty more examplesMichelle’s DeliciousSue’s Delicious

Sources and resources:

Knight Digital Media Center reporting tutorial written by Paul Grabowicz, University of California, Berkeley

Cheat Sheet for Multimedia Story Decisions