Interactive Utility

What is immersive multi-media? It is the ability, through graphics and multi-media, to completely immerse the reader in the subject and/or story you are presenting. It can be done through games, simulations, calculators and other online presentations. This allows a reader to explore a subject.

Investigative reporters deal with complicated, multi-dimensional stories all the time. Pre-online, the only way to really add different elements to a story other than pictures was through the use of sidebars. Now, interactive calculators, graphs and simulations can help the journalist get their story across to the reader. Not only do these attract readers, they have a long shelf-life and can be archived for future use.

One of the most interesting sites to see some of these interactive websites in use is the Discovery Network’s interactive area: http://dsc.discovery.com/games/games-tab-04.html

But what about the time factor? Is there really enough time to put together all of these informational graphics? Wittekind argues yes. Not only can the work be outsourced to journalism students (ahem!), but they can also be made more of a priority in the news room. There is a lot of bang for your buck to be had by taking the time to put these interactive projects together.