Visual Tools Journalists Can Use to Enhance Their Articles
With the rise of social media and the ever-decreasing attention spans of audiences, it's becoming increasingly important for journalists to use visual techniques to capture their readers' attention and engage them with their stories. The incorporation of visual elements can make stories more interesting, informative, and shareable, helping to increase clicks and build a larger audience. Some effects are more powerful than others, and the internet seems to continuously invent new visual, audio, and interactive mediums.
Among the most powerful tools that journalists can use to create visually appealing and informative content are animated infographics or data visualizations. These can help to break down complex data or statistics and present them in a way that is both easy to understand and engaging. According to the International Journalists’ Network (IJN), animated infographics can help journalists to make their stories more accessible to a wider audience, which can in turn help to increase engagement and clicks. “It’s an illustration of the principle that if you’ve got a bit of audio, you can turn it into a series of images instead,” said journalist Paul Bradshaw. These types of visual elements can be particularly useful for stories related to science, technology, and data-driven reporting.
Another visual technique that journalists can use to enhance their stories: videos. Videos generate more engagement than any other type of content, making them an incredibly effective tool for capturing readers' attention and keeping them engaged with a story. Videos also play better on mobile devices, and according to IJN, “Mobile Journalism Is Modern Journalism.” Videos can be easily shared on social media, making them a great tool for reaching audiences and communities beyond the normal scope of what a newsroom could ostensibly engage with.
Emojis, memes, and gifs have become ubiquitous in online communication, and while they may initially seem silly, they can also be effective tools for web-based journalism. “It’s very easy to dismiss [visual] languages if you don’t know a lot about them, because from the outside they might seem one dimensional,” explained Bradshaw. “Actually, there's a lot of complexity and richness and creativity,” These types of visual elements can add humor, emotion, and personality to a story, making it more relatable and shareable. Despite the opportunities memes, gifs, and emojis present, reporters must still use these tools judiciously and in a way that is appropriate for the tone and subject matter of the story.
It's worth noting that the use of visual elements in journalism is not a new concept. Newspapers and magazines have been using images to enhance their stories for decades, and television news broadcasts have long incorporated video into their reporting. However, the rise of social media and the shift toward online journalism has made visual elements even more important. In today's digital landscape, journalists who are able to create visually compelling stories will be at an advantage.
In conclusion, visual techniques are paramount for journalists looking to enhance their stories and generate more clicks for their newsroom. By embracing these visual techniques and incorporating them into their reporting, journalists can stay ahead of the curve, learn more visual languages as they become available, and connect with audiences of all ages who crave news to satiate their short attention spans.
