garciamedia

Jul. 4th Infographics to the rescue

Sometimes, there is no better storytelling method than a detailed infographic that presents the sequence of events leading to a momentous occasion. Such has been the case with the successful rescue of Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian citizen who was captured by the guerrillas in Colombia six years ago.  It was an operation planned for almost a year, and carried out with precision, that led Ingrid and others to freedom.

The Spanish newspapers carried the news across two pages, with infographics dominating the design.  In this case, photos could only help to tell the emotional tale of Ingrid’s encounter with her children; the rest, as in the the second by second account of the rescue operation, was up to the artists and reporters working together to tell us how it was done.

I think we have reached that intelligent point at which we know that not every story needs to be told by an infographic. Quite the contrary, some stories are better told with words, or with words and photos. Special stories such as the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt depend on a well reported and executed infographic to take us to the scene of the event.

The animated versions of the graphics added dimension and energy to the graphics, but the storytelling aspect of them was the same in both print and online.

As we define the craft of storytelling in a multiplatform world, we learn that every story is different, and we now have the best tools ever to give each story its best possible coverage. This was a clear example of that.

WE SEND YOU:
http://www.abc.es
http://www.elpais.es
http://www.elmundo.es

WHERE IS MARIO? Taking the sun in Maspalomas, recharging the batteries.

Posted by Dr. Mario R. Garcia