Visualizing Your Story

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Everybody knows that people are engaged in multiple ways, one of which is through visuals. In this super-busy world, journalists must catch the reader's attention even faster than ever before. One of the most efficient ways of doing this is using graphics in your story-telling.

The session I attended, Visualizing Stories: Moving Beyond Words When Covering the Environment, covered all the basics that journalists need to know when using visuals in their stories. Here are some of the highlights...

• When using graphs, remember that a good graph is equal to a nut graph. It should illustrate/illuminate the gist of the story (Dina Cappiello)
• There are many things that call for a graph. Here are some of them: time lines, data trends over time, comparative data, maps, sequential events, report cards, and any complicated process or concept that could be better explained with an illustration. (Lisa Stiffler)
• Remember, good graphics don't happen without good reporting. (Dina Cappiello)
• When working with the graphics department, don't just hand over your copy and expect them to come up with a visual for you. Look over the article and pick out what you want to illustrate. This will make the whole process a lot easier. (Lisa Stiffler)
• When considering using a graph, imagine yourself as a reader picking up a newspaper. Would the graph that you're thinking of using interest you?
• Feeling pretty creative? Try out www.soundslides.com Create your own audio slide show with this program and use it in conjunction with your next article. And the best part? It's FREE!

Comments

[Bobbi Russell]

Another post on the same topic.

[law of attraction exercises]

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Well done!