Data Visualization

Digital environments make it possible to use multimedia to amplify a message. If a picture paints a 1000 words, a 5 minute YouTube Video paints 10,000, words.
Humans use visualizations to help explain and predict behaviors in their world. Journalism has always employed graphs and charts and images to support and carry stories. Digital tools support and extend that function.

Some visualizations are as artistic as they are informative.

Have you seen these ~40 amazing @Wikipedia visualizations? https://t.co/30QESnW21Q
The possibilities are ~endless! https://t.co/lVVz8fTzch

— Hatnote (@hatnotable) November 29, 2015

Two common data visualization tools that we will explore in this class are maps and timelines.

Maps
Journalists use many web based mapping applications but Google mapping applications are ubiquitous in journalism.
Google Earth and Google maps use geo-spatial information from the Global Information system. Much of this information comes from satellite imagery and plotting. Again, as with most Googley things, user-generated content contributes substantially to the application and practice has emerged from use patterns. The cognitive surplus is unleashed!

Timelines
The Knight school has developed and share a Timeline tool that works with Google Sheets. Step by step instructions are here.