Copy editing V: Packaging information

• Review last week’s assignment• Look at sidebars, graphs,

infographics• Brainstorm sidebars for U-news

stories

Visual elements help

readers Articles aren’t always

best format – too much grey type repels

The Chronicle Herald

Visual elements

Use add-ons like sidebars, fact boxes and glances to help readers visualize key details

Add facts, figures and stats without interrupting story flow

The Chronicle Herald

Visual elements Use key

numbers to communicate quickly and clearly

USA Today homepage features live count of US gov’t. shutdown cost

Use graphs and charts to show evidence to reader, help them draw conclusions/comparisons

Alternative story forms

“Alternative story forms seem to work best with fact-laden stories, providing a way to handle numbers, time, location and juxtaposition references in a simple, comparative way.”

• Poynter

Alternative story forms:

Q & A

Timeline

Fact box

By-the-numbers box

Metro Halifax

Main story: Why more guns

on Halifax streets

Sidebars:

1. What to do if you hear

gunfire

2. No. of seizures in HRM 2012 vs. 2011

3. Rate of gun incidents in Canadian

cities

4. Gun incident rates in

N.S. communitie

s

Source: Chronicle

Herald

Sidebars

Explore another angle of story

Break out statistics

Show a timeline or background info

Explain a process

Round up key quotes

Show Twitter reaction

List highlights, tips, logistical details

Class exercisesLook at news story and brainstorm possible

sidebars.

In groups, discuss U-news ideas and sidebar options.

Charts and graphs

Use to illustrate social evolution,

statistical comparisons, track

trendsSource: Wall Street

Journal Graphics

Maps

Illustrate where news happens – especially if no

other art

Use in stories dealing with

geography, land or infrastructure

development

Image: National Post

InfographicsUSA Today cover from May

27, 2010

Illustrates BP oil spill “fix-it” strategy

Can’t photograph it

Text description lengthy and complicated

Graphic simplifies it

Source: http://newspaperdesign.ning

.com/group/graphics