Hello again, reporters! This issue features our intrepid reporter Teddy Maiorca:
This week, I have a free storytelling tool that helps journalists create detailed visual pieces, taking readers on a guided tour of maps, photographs, artwork and more. StoryMap is an open source tool developed by Northwestern University’s Knight Lab.
Using StoryMap, you can drop pins on an image to create a series of events. By attaching text and different types of media, the map becomes a slideshow of sorts.
It can be used to explain how an event unfolded, but it’s also a great option for examining photographs, paintings and historic objects. Creating a StoryMap is as easy as dropping the location of your desired area or image. Then, you’re free to add details wherever you like.
It supports custom maps as well. Finished products can be seamlessly embedded into a CMS like WordPress and Squarespace, or made even more custom via Mapbox. Visualize those stories, reporters!
Teddy Maiorca is a University of Missouri student currently working as a graphics editor for the Columbia Missourian.