How to Handle a Multi-Part Package
At The Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, Florida:
Lucas Grindley makes all the right points about why it makes sense for this newspaper to invest these resources in this story. Venice, Florida, is less than 20 miles south on the Tamiami Trail from Sarasota — Venice, where three of the terrorist pilots learned to fly. And the elementary school where George W. Bush first heard about the attacks? It’s in Sarasota.
What I’d like to point out, though, is how journalist Melissa Worden and colleagues organized this package. It is one of the best examples in recent years of an online journalism package that’s NOT a warehouse jam-packed with too much stuff. It’s a package that makes the most out of the online medium. What’s more, it did not take a Flash rocket scientist to figure this out.
Here’s what the package provides, in a single-screen, no-scrolling experience:
- An enticing 10-second intro (no need to skip it; it’s short!).
- Five clearly labeled sections that, by virtue of intelligent text, make you want to click in.
- Similar excellent labeling for sub-sections within the five main sections.
- Flash video and Soundslides audio slideshows that play seamlessly within the package (no pop-ups or fly-outs!).
- Good integration of maps that really help tell the story.
- Legible text, short paragraphs, and clear, straightforward writing. One of the most admirable things about this package: It really communicates well.
- Click-ability: When you look at this package, be mindful of how it’s so easy to click — a lot. You quickly come to trust the package not to do anything unexpected. You don’t feel lost or confused. So, you feel comfortable clicking on anything and everything, because you see how easy it will be to get back to where you were.
Combine all that with the high-quality content, which is really and truly local AND of interest to people in the Sarasota area.
This is exactly the type of Flash journalism package that SOMEONE in your newsroom should know how to produce. It honestly would not take a year to learn how to do this. If a journalist had a copy of Flash 8 Professional, some time to learn and experiment, and no one breathing down her neck and forcing her to churn out stupid stuff 10 hours a day, five days a week, she could figure out how to get this kind of package into your workflow.
I’m not saying a Flash beginner should attempt this — that would lead to great frustration! But it’s also not something you would need to hire Terra Incognita to do. It’s waaay simpler than that!
Technorati tags: news | multimedia | journalism | Flash | Flash journalism | examples
Categories: multimedia
Mindy — thanks so much for the props!
This was such an interesting project to work on. And it took many from the newsroom — reporters, editors, photographers and graphic designers — to make it happen.
And you’re right, given a chance to learn the basics, it wouldn’t take long to produce this type of Flash graphic. Your book and 10-minute tutorials are all a journalist would need to get started.
There are many, many packages out there that aren’t nearly as well organized and easy to use. Congratulations on getting it done so well!