Non-Traditional Storytelling Techniques

Print, audio and video. Generally online journalists stick to those mediums for storytelling, but that doesn't mean they are the only viable options.

For new examples, let's take a look at chapter 9 of James C. Foust's "Online Journalism" textbook. Specifically, I'll focus on the section of the Web text called "Types of Media Elements."

Flash journalism is an interesting storytelling possibility. Flash journalism allows for the combination of audio, video, text and pictures in one medium. This can certainly be extremely helpful in packaging a story and giving the reader a number of different options. Perhaps the best aspect of flash journalism is that it allows the reader to select the way they'd like to get the story, according to Jose Marquez, a producer at KQED Interactive.

Photo composition is another potentially beneficial technique. Often Web photos are blurry, disorganized and mismanaged -- but focusing on composition can rectify those problems. Composition centers upon the way the subjects of the photo are positioned in the frame and the amount of zoom or focus that is used after the fact. An example from the link I've provided is that photo of the family of four pushed to the left in the wide scope, but then centered and enlarged on its own. The second option is much more effective and clearer.

Perhaps the most contemporary and interesting new example is under the heading "Going Digital." This section discusses the recording of interviews directly into a reporter's computer. So much for the old paper and pen. This technique can work if a reporter plugs their tape recorder directly into their computer's slot for the multimedia sound card.

Moving on to question 2 on page 214 of Foust's print textbook, the "game" elements discussed at the end of the chapter certainly do help the reader get a better understanding of the information at hand. Looking at the three examples -- The Enron Blame Game, Minnesota Public Radio Budget Balancer and Can You Spot the Threats? -- it is easier to comprehend each situation when put into game format where competition is involved.

I liken this to high school teachers or college professors who like to play factual Jeopardy with their students in order to make them more interested and enthusiastic about their subject matter. It generally works.

Finishing up with question 3, a story I recently worked on that could have used some multimedia elements was called "Cut A-Rod Some Slack." This column was in defense of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez who is constantly under great fan and media scrutiny.

I would have featured a video clip of A-Rod's game-winning, walk-off grand slam so my readers could get a look at what I was describing. For audio I would have utilized a clip of the rowdy fan reaction at Yankee Stadium. Perhaps I could have added an interactive slideshow of the post-homer celebration which was quite a sight to see.

These features could enhance the story in ways that print cannot by putting the readers back into the actual moment with the same feel and intensity of the instance. My words do the story justice, but the sights and sounds help the reader relive it.