Thinking Digitally

Oct. 14, 2011

Agenda
1. Use what you have 2. Dream up a wish list (and examples of some tools you can use to get it done) 3. Dont forget social media 4. Q&A

Use What You Have

- Provide your own commentary (take the reader behind the scenes) -Share stuff you have already accumulated to put the story together

Reporter Commentary

Calgary Herald/Postmedia News

Laura Stone created a video to go with her prison series in which she described her motivation for tackling her subject.

Postmedia News

Sharon Kirkey used a SoundSlide to tell our audience about the impact the story had on her as a reporter, and reveal anecdotal details that readers will find in the series.

Ottawa Citizen

Andrew Duffy took readers behind the scenes and discussed how he got the York Street project and what it took to get inside the school for a year and get teachers to talk.

Stuff We Accumulate
As you reported, you gathered tools that will help you think digitally (its not as much legwork as you think)

Extra Photos
-Turn them into photo galleries traffic! -Build a SoundSlide -Take your own photos (let photographers shoot your subjectsyou can get shots the photographer misses after he or she leaves) -Can be used in timelines and graphics

PDFs and Documents

-Save all those papers cluttering your desk! -Get them loaded in with your story so readers can analyze what you used to report your story -Archival docs, legal docs, certificates, handwritten letters

Edmonton Journal

The Journal provided scans of original documents from the National Archives.

Postmedia News

For a high-speed rail series, reporter Mike De Souza provided an internal briefing document from VIA Rail.

Audio

If you record your interviews anyway, why not use them to enhance the online presentation, especially when theres a compelling reason to do so like a muppet.

Transcripts: interviews, speeches

If you were only able to include a fraction of a great interview in your story, but your source has a lot more to say, you can provide a transcript that can accompany your story to provide greater context.

Maps and other relevant docs

Use handouts of transit systems, architectural plans, etc. to let readers see for themselves.

Here the Gazette used a transit map of various city zones.

Dream up a wish list

How can you better illustrate your story? What would your reader want to see/hear/interact with as a part of your story? Be creativeuse your imagination.

Vancouvers Fatabase

Montreals Bridge Naming

Reginas Election Map

Ottawas Live Chat

Tools to Try

Storify: Vancouver Sun

Storify: Postmedia News

Dipity: Postmedia News

Dipity: Postmedia News

Storyful: Postmedia News

Umapper: Postmedia News

Polldaddy: Postmedia News

Caspio: Vancouver

Caspio: Postmedia News

Social Media
-Talk to your editors and make sure your story is being promoted on Postmedias Twitter feed and Facebook page -Monitor reaction to your story and interact with readers (if appropriate) -Set up a Google Alert to monitor your byline for online discussions about or references to your story

Q&A