Focus first on breaking news

Posted on June 11, 2007 by Melissa Worden

Alberto Cairo, elmundo.es’s former infographics expert, answers some questions by Noral Paul and Laura Ruel about visual journalism in “Animated infographics and online storytelling: Words from the wise.”

This quote struck me (emphasis is mine):

“Among the best recent multimedia coverage, I would highlight the Times’ interactive about the Virginia Tech shootings. The combination of audio, video and information
graphics makes this breaking news coverage one of the best I’ve ever seen. You see, ALMOST ANY PUBLICATION CAN CREATE A GOOD LONG-TERM, FEATURE PROJECT ONLINE. IT IS MUCH, MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THAT IN A TIGHT DEADLINE.

“With their most recent hires, The New York Times is trying to emulate the model we used at elmundo.es back in 2000-2005. The are focusing more on breaking stories, rather than on features. Don’t get me wrong, features are great, but A NEWSPAPER SHOULD FOCUS FIRST ON UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.”

Is this a no-brainer? Maybe so, but my first reaction to reading this was: OK, so we’re upping the ante on these interactive packages now. Anyone can do a good feature project, huh? So let’s put a timer in the mix and see what the REAL journalists can come up with?

But I do think Cairo makes some good points, and there are lessons to be learned here:

You can’t plan for breaking news. You have to be able to put everything else aside and quickly, efficiently, accurately build an interactive graphic. Cairo is right in that it’s much more difficult to produce on deadline.

And readers’ appetites for latest developments and explainers during a breaking news event can be huge. The Virgina Tech shooting described above is an excellent example.

So by focusing resources in that area, you’re serving those readers — and, let’s admit it, you’re increasing page views during an high-volume opportunity.

Since I said the dirty words (page views), it seems to me that focusing on breaking news may be time better spent, too. You’re liable to get much more return on your time investment for a breaking news or news event (ie, election coverage), than you are a special package feature because you’re going to have better odds that the readers are going to actually see the breaking news — they’re seeking out the news during those times.