Storytelling with Interactive Graphics: An Analysis of Editors' Attitudes and Practices

Abstract

A common dilemma faces today's news editors who must decide whether to devote time and resources to the production of interactive graphics for their websites. Are interactive graphics an important storytelling tool? Are they cost-effective in this digital age? This study finds that while editors value interactive graphics, few newspapers devote prime website real estate to graphics, making it difficult to assess their worth. The authors also use the results of a national survey, a content analysis, and personal interviews to determine the frequency with which graphics are produced and to identify the barriers to their production. Interactive graphics, once the “next hot thing” in multimedia content, now compete for time and attention with social media, news curation, and apps development projects. Directions for future research are also discussed.