Page 104 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

CONVERGED GRAPHICS ACROSS ALL MEDIA

Once the text was finalized, this was given to the Web designer,
along with multiple renderings of the ship, to allow him to work on
the online animation. When the final illustration of the ship was ready,
they were able to place it on the print page and into the Web animation.
For broadcast, the animation was done with an early model of the ship,
so reporters only had to update the model and render out the animation.
The final step was to take the broadcast illustration into After Effects
to add the final touches and special effects.
By making sure that everyone was able to work on the project simul-
taneously, all three components were ready for publication on the
same day. The Spiegel Grove project is a fine example of how informa-
tion graphics can provide a convergence partnership with an amazing
array of resources for readers/viewers/Web users looking for thorough
coverage of a single topic.

The Power of Information Graphics

It is important for all journalists to understand the significance and
94 power of information graphics in news coverage. Not everyone will
possess the highly specialized skills needed for creating the graphics.
However, reporters, producers, editors, and photographers alike must
be able to recognize when a graphic is necessary as well as conceptualize
a graphic within a story package. Look for visual cues within a story and
propose a graphic when the answers to the questions “who,” “what,”
“when,” “where,” “why,” or “how” are visual. Sometimes this means
paying close attention as a reporter or editor is describing the story at
hand, always listening for words, phrases, and concepts that suggest a
graphic.
Work to simplify complicated information. Specific numbers, visual
descriptions of objects or events, and identifiable locations don’t always
jump out, and a graphic may not always present itself right away.
A good journalist will often discover a graphic’s potential in less obvious
ways. Is the explanation in a story getting bogged down and difficult to
follow? If so, can the information be organized in a more graphic way?
Is there information that can be conveyed conceptually to put a thought
or idea into a more visual perspective? Using visual metaphors (or “data
metaphors” in the case of mathematical or quantifiable information) is
often a simpler way for people to digest information.
Look for comparisons, dates, or other organizational facts outlined
in the story. Who are the key players and why? What are the key dates?
How did we get here? Where do we go from here? What’s at issue,