Google Street View in Journalism

Google Street View is a revolutionary mapping system that allows the user to see a location not just from the traditional arial perspective, but from a vantage point of 2.5 meters from the ground. It offers a 360-degree view of neighborhoods all over the world. What is it?

Google Street View is a revolutionary mapping system that allows the user to see a location not just from the traditional arial perspective, but from a vantage point of 2.5 meters from the ground. It offers a 360-degree view of neighborhoods all over the world.

How has it been used? Multiple online news sites linked the address of Phillip Garrido, who was recently charged with the kidnapping of Kaycee Lee Dugard. Garrido kept Dugard in a makeshift compound in his backyard.

Multiple online news sites linked the address of Phillip Garrido, who was recently charged with the kidnapping of Kaycee Lee Dugard. Garrido kept Dugard in a makeshift compound in his backyard.

More on Garrido: His rusty van was visible on street view.

His rusty van was visible on street view.

Google Street View and Photographers Photographers would be able to see the layout of a place before shooting it. A street view might help give them a sense of what they might want to shoot or where they might want to stand. Access to photographs in inaccessible places. The use of the street view to stake out parking or prepare for the assignment.

Photographers would be able to see the layout of a place before shooting it. A street view might help give them a sense of what they might want to shoot or where they might want to stand.

Access to photographs in inaccessible places.

The use of the street view to stake out parking or prepare for the assignment.

Street View and Story Telling: A Visual Sense of the Past For stories about construction, natural disasters, or anything that physically changes a place, a Google Street View could show readers what a place, building, etc. used to look like.

For stories about construction, natural disasters, or anything that physically changes a place, a Google Street View could show readers what a place, building, etc. used to look like.

Street View and Editors Use Google Street View to fact check a writer’s physical description of a place, or to catch a doctored photograph. Check credibility of sources and locations.

Use Google Street View to fact check a writer’s physical description of a place, or to catch a doctored photograph.

Check credibility of sources and locations.

Conclusion Google Street View is a helpful tool for journalists, but it can never replace visiting an actual location. It is most useful for reporters and photographers to get an idea about a location before they begin their work. It should be noted that Google Maps can only be used at its full potential online.

Lauren Crabbe Shayla Durrett Helen Cunningham Austin Brown

Lauren Crabbe

Shayla Durrett

Helen Cunningham

Austin Brown