This document discusses opportunities and skills for multimedia journalism online. It notes that online journalists can make more money than print counterparts and need skills like writing, shooting video/audio, and basic coding. The concept of "backpack journalism" is introduced, where all tools needed to report fit in a backpack. Effective online stories break news, include links to sources, integrate social media and allow interactivity. Multimedia like video and interactive elements also work well online. Reading and story structures differ online, favoring "chunked" shorter sections and nonlinear experiences.

1. Multimedia Journalism
Presented by
Brett Atwood

2. Online Journalism
• The biggest opportunity for aspiring
journalists and storytellers is on web, mobile
and other digital platforms
– Web Editors often make more money than their
print editor counterparts
– Be prepared to “do it all” including audio and
video editing and maybe even some light coding

3. Backpack Journalism
• Online journalists need to know how to write,
shoot and record
– They also have technology skills for
posting/uploading stories online
• “Backpack Journalism” =
All the tools for reporting
fit in your backpack

4. Web Journalism
• What works online?
– Breaking news
– Links to credible sources
– Social media integration and reader interactivity
– Multimedia
– “Widgets” and other enhancements

5. Differences
• Stories may be read and/or presented in a
non-linear fashion
• Online readers may have some control of the
content
• Unlimited space to tell the story
• Multimedia components to supplement the
story text
• Can be updated instantly with latest
developing details

6. Reading Habits
• Reading online is typically 25% slower than
print
• Some “tricks” to keep a reader interested:
– Layout with bullet points and bold subheads
– Break longer stories into “chunks”
– Include multimedia elements
• Polls
• Slideshows
• Audio/Video

7. “Chunking” & Story Structure
• Screen-size “chunks”
– Break up a longer story into
“chunk” sections so that it is
easier to read
– This can be read in a non-
linear fashion
– It is also easier for mobile
readers

8. Story Shells
• In online reporting, you can use a story shell
structure to establish a top level that contains
all the “chunked” various related elements of
the reporting
– Links to related sites/resources
– Interactive timelines
– Text of your reporting
– Slideshow of images

9. Linking
• There are differing philosophies on whether to
include links in your story
– It helps readers navigate to more resources
related to your reporting
– It also draws people away from your site (and
your ad revenue)

10. Linking
• Use only quality links
• Don’t overdo it
• Be aware of the integrity of the site that you
are linking to
– Does it contain spyware or NSFW content?
– Does it contain illegal content?

11. SEO &The Power of the Headline
• The headline is more critical than ever
– Can help determine how/if your story gets
indexed on keyword searches
– It often serves as a “tease” to convince the reader
to click on the link to get the full story
– Real problem with “clickbait” that serves as a bait-
and-switch from promised content to what is
actually in the story

12. Social Media & News
• Social media is critical for discovery and
distribution of your reporting
• It can also be used to help research topics and
to round up sources

13. “Widgets” & Add-Ons
• There are multiple services that you can
use to get embeddable widgets and add-
ons for your reporting
– Google Media Tools
– Facebook Media Tools
– Twitter Resources for Media

14. Interactive Graphics
• Many sites are using interactive graphics to tell a key
part of the story
• See several award-winning examples at the Society for
News Design Web site

15. Photo Galleries & Slideshows
• Many articles are supplemented by
embedded photo galleries and slideshows
• There are many software options that can
be used including
– SoundSlides
– Slideshare

16. Photo Galleries & Slideshows
• Two examples from
The Record
– Johnny Cash memorial
– Gastric bypass surgery

17. Cutline Captions
• Cutlines are the captions under
a photo
• Used to let readers know what
the story is about and why the
photo is significant
• Should include:
– Who is in the photo
– What the people are doing
– When, where and why the
photo was taken
– How the photo was taken
(optional)
Gene Beley, left, strides
behind Johnny Cash as
they cross the yard at
Folsom Prison.

18. Mobile Storytelling & More
• Ephemeral storytelling
– Snapchat
• Live video streaming/sharing
– Periphone/Meerkat
• Virtual reality
– Oculus/Vive