PROGRAM: Multimedia Stories: How to get started and where to go next

Session: Multimedia Stories

Date: Sat. 9/2/06
Time: 2:45 p.m.
Speaker: Alberto Cairo,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Download the handout

PART 1 - HOW TO GET STARTED

1. Specialize and train your staff

• Even if you're short-staffed, if you want to produce multimedia pieces, you will need specialists.
• "Integration" doesn't mean you don't need specialists ‚Äì people doing multimedia need to be doing it full time.
  

2. Get the print people involved

• Print reporters can do audio, print photographers will be happy to have photos on the web.

3. Understand the medium

• Animation, Interactivity, Multimedia

Online and print infographics are different.

• In print you control SPACE -- limited amount of room to manage
• In online, you control SPACE and TIME
• Can have secondary levels of info (i.e. rollovers)

WORKFLOW
Traditional workflow:

• Waiting for the print version of the graphic to be done.
• Mistakes: delays delivery of online infograph A LOT and it makes the online graphic follow the same workflow.
  

Streamlined workflow:

• Allows creation of the print and online graphic simultaneously - same workflow for both versions of the multimedia.
• BUT online and print desks must be on the same page.
  

How you can create both simultaneously:
1. Gather the information - send reporter to interview someone at the museum.
2. Print and online info people can start to plan, and gather more information.
-Create drafts and storyboard using the SAME information.

For breaking news:
Example: 3.11.04 Madrid train attacks
1. A small graphic, nothing interactive, but just gets info out there.
2. Add layers to it. (about 5 hours after the attack)
3. Transform that small, static piece into an interactive piece.
4. By the end of the day, the graphic includes all the assets we wanted before – several layers, etc.
5. AN ONGOING PROCESS -- you will be working all day. Not something that can be done at 10 pm once print is done.



PART 2 -- WHERE TO GO NEXT

Do better what you know you can do better
Invest in what you can do best

Interactivity

• Navigation, and let reader play with your presentation in some way.
• Adapt to his or her needs
  

Local news can also be played up with multimedia content, and interactivity with the media is key for readers.

• Poughkeepsie Journal lets users design your own front page (link).
  
• Gives users ability to drag stories onto page and type a headline.
• Lets users transform and adapt to their own needs.
• Not extremely well designed, but it's engaging.

• South Florida Sun-Sentinel feature on the Jewish community
• Brings back the story of Ukrianian jews back to local angle.
• Includes video, audio commentary from reporter, interactive maps, different kinds of media.
• Connect global and local stories
  

Lastly, he showed his students' Robinson Crusoe project (www.rcrusoe.org), which spanned one semester at UNC.
Key points:

• Separate design and content
• Load content dynamically

• Works if one or two people are going to work in the presentation
• Make several separate files because:
• Many people could work on it
• Have each person edit their own file ‚Äì text, audio can be edited by reporter so they don‚Äôt have to use Flash.
• If you use XML, it will automatically update the content in Flash
• Change any parameters
• Load pictures dynamically
• Cairo: ‚ÄúI learned to use XML tutorials that I found online. XML is much better because it allows you to store any kind of data.‚Äù He suggested www.tutorialoutpost.com for online tutorials.

Where to get some training:
SND Flash Quick Courses
SND-E Malofiej Infographics Workshop
El Mundo Online Infographics Workshop
UNC Multimedia Bootcamp

VIDEO:
This 2-minute video shows one example Cairo used for web multimedia.




WHO WAS THERE?
At each session I've gone to, I've asked the person sitting next to me to tell me what they like about SND Orlando so far, and what they're looking forward to.

Adrian Norris, The Globe and Mail
Favorite session: Nytimes.com print and web integration by Neil Chase
"I’ve learned most of the different techniques for … print and web integration. Tips that help me be better at my job."