These are the slides for my presentation on multimedia storytelling for the American Copy Editors Society. In a later version, I will add links to the examples I use to illustrate the points.

1. Multimedia storytelling
Steve Buttry, Gazette Communications
American Copy Editors Society
May 1, 2009
steve.buttry@gazcomm.com
@stevebuttry on Twitter

2. Slides
This presentation (and others on
ethics, Twitter, liveblogging):
slideshare.net/stevebuttry
More training materials on my blog:
stevebuttry.wordpress.com
Or at notrain-nogain.org

11. What tools, techniques and
elements would you use
to tell this story (or any
disaster in your
community)?

12. What tools, techniques and
elements would you use
to tell a story your staff is
working on?

13. Start using these storytelling tools
• Interactive databases
• Interactive maps
• Breaking news alerts
• Liveblogging
• Video, including webcams
• Slideshows, photo galleries
• Flash multimedia stories
• Crowdsourcing, user contributions
• Social networks (Flickr, Twitter, Facebook …)

14. Questions to ask about a story
• Should you file immediately for digital
audiences?
• What are the multimedia elements of your
story?
• How can you make the story interactive?
• What links will provide greater depth?
• Should you tell this story in an alternate form?

15. Digital stories are visual
• Use photos and photo galleries
• Use audio slideshows
• Use video
• Use Flash multimedia stories

16. Digital news is immediate
• Liveblog as the story happens
• Report live with webcasts and webcams
• Report immediately with Twitter
• Update developments
• Text alerts

17. Digital stories are personal
• Use interactive maps
• Use interactive databases
• Ask users to tell their stories
• Use social networks

18. Digital stories are visual
• Use photos and photo galleries

35. Digital stories are visual
• Use photos and photo galleries
• Use audio slideshows

36. Digital stories are visual
• Use photos and photo galleries
• Use audio slideshows
• Use video

37. Use a variety of video
• Quick news video

38. Use a variety of video
• Quick news video
• Polished feature video
• Video in a story

39. Use a variety of video
• Quick news video
• Polished feature video
• Video in a story
• Webcams
• Live webcast
• Studio or newsroom webcast
• Acquired videos (security or home video)

40. Use a variety of video
• Quick news video
• Polished feature video
• Video in a story
• Webcams
• Live webcast
• Studio or newsroom webcast
• Acquired videos (security or home video)
• User-submitted video
• Link to video from other sources

41. Digital stories are visual
• Use photos and photo galleries
• Use audio slideshows
• Use video
• Use Flash multimedia stories

42. Digital news is immediate
• Liveblog as the story happens
• Report live with webcasts and webcams
• Report immediately with Twitter
• Update developments
• Text alerts

43. Digital stories are personal
• Use interactive maps

46. Digital stories are personal
• Use interactive maps
• Use interactive databases

47. Digital stories are personal
• Use interactive maps
• Use interactive databases
• Ask users to tell their stories

48. Ways to involve audience
• Involve participants in your reporting.
• Involve participants in telling the story.
• Help participants to personalize the story.
• Engage participants in the continuation of the
story.

49. Digital stories are personal
• Use interactive databases
• Use interactive maps
• Ask users to tell their stories
• Use social networks

54. Digital stories are personal
• Use interactive databases
• Use interactive maps
• Ask users to tell their stories
• Use social networks
• Move beyond linear story form controlled by
the writer

55. For more on Gazette innovation
• Blueprint for Complete Community
Connection at
stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• Twitter, liveblogging tips also on blog
• API ethics seminar: Upholding &
Updating Ethical Standards; subsidized
seminars for newsrooms, press
associations, journalism orgs