I created this presentation for an October 2011 visit to the journalism program at the University of Iowa. It includes a discussion of different ways to report and cover a variety of topics and how to maximize multimedia tools to best suit stories.
2. What kind of journalist are you?
You may have a “first love” or affinity for a
particular platform
Audio
Video
Text
Photography
Graphics
3. Forget that for now!
Consider yourself a multimedia journalist
Assess your strengths and weaknesses.
Technology?
Visual approaches?
Writing?
Interviewing?
Data?
Research?
5. VIDEO
Good for:
Action
Characters
Example: Duck in a truck
Crime
Kids
Animals
Comedy
Drama
Food
How-to
6. Video
How to tell a “concept” story:
Example: Economy in a box
What are some kinds of stories that may not
be suited to Video?
7. Video
A few tips:
• Avoid TELLING when you can SHOW
• WRITE to your video
• Use sound bites for
• Emotion
• Insight
• Expertise
NOT: data, abstract concepts, information you
can summarize or paraphrase
8. Photography
Photos are the most popular online media
element.
Good for
Emotion
Central character
Central places
Reflection
Detail
9. Photography
NARRATIVE Example: Navigating the City
without Sight
Slideshow
INTENSITY Example: President Obama
and staff
Slideshow
EVENT Example: Palin& Beck event (St.
Charles, MO Patch)
Story
Extra slideshow
10. Audio
Good for:
Human voice
“Taking you there”
Creating a mood
Reflection
11. Audio
Evocative stories
EXAMPLE: Why is BART so noisy?
EXAMPLE: Inside Haiti
Stand alone audio
EXAMPLE: Michael Jackson 911 call
12. EXTRAS: Maps
Makes data and trends real
Provide context
Examples:
Wichita Unsolved Murders
Stink map
13. EXTRAS: Timelines
Great for trends, historical context, narrative
Example: 1969 (New York Times)
Example: Inventing the Wheel
14. Tools
Timelines
Create your own: TimelineSetter
Create your own: Dipity
Create your own: Simile
Maps
embed a MapQuest Map
embed a Google Map
15. EXTRAS:
POLLS
Example: PollDaddy
LINK (or embed) like crazy!
Videos
Example: Mac vs. PC
Related articles
Resources