Long live the audio slideshow

Posted on January 21, 2007 by Melissa Worden

I’m a little late to the conversation, but Michael Bazeley posted on his blog that he’s bored with Soundslides (aka, audio slideshows).

I see where he’s coming from, especially when it’s so easy to produce audio slideshows — and a bunch of them — which can lead to sloppy work and, well, boring projects.

It’s a pattern that’s I’ve seen happen a lot over the years: For example, quizzes are fun so you do one for a project. Next thing you know, all of the reporters are requesting a quiz, even if it wouldn’t do anything to compliment or advance the print story.

But I don’t agree that audio slideshows are the poor man’s video and should, therefore, be scrapped entirely.

Video, indeed, has a growing role in online storytelling. But audio slideshows have the potential to make a powerful statement when used correctly.

Trying to set a scene and sit on a single image for a while? Why not take advantage of this fabulous asset you have at your paper — the photography department — and use an audio slideshow.

Here’s an example: A review of fashion at the Golden Globes. The stars move by on the carpet so quickly that one photograph paused for a bit so the reader can get a full look as a voice-over comments on the dress works so much better than video could. There are plenty of stories like this that could warrant the use of a slideshow rather than video.

Plus, look close, and you’ll see TV use still photos quite often when they’re looking to make a dramatic effect (most recently, I recall seeing this during President Ford’s funeral). They’ve made that choice because the photographs tell a different story.

In the end, it comes down to determining which medium will tell the story best, and which way is easiest for your audience to consume the news.

Oh, and the whole Ken Burns-style effect added to slideshows is downright cheesy if overdone. Sparingly, it’s OK, but I always cringe when someone suggests we move the photo for better effect. If you need to move the photos around, then just use video.