Comic journalistic work, there are now available on many websites. What was lacking so far, however, was a magazine for journalistic drawn shapes.

This gap is now closed: . Symbolia is the first magazine for graphic journalism The first edition was published in early December 2012 at Apple's App Store, but is also available as an e-paper. Price: 10.99 € for one year (only by subscription).

In it stuck to the roof of five illustrated stories about "Surviving":

- "Sea Change" describes why California's Salton Sea will soon experience an ecological disaster.
- "Secret Species" explores why the evolution in the Congo delta switches on the turbo.
- "Live Long, The Quick" leads in the human gastrointestinal tract and reveals what the microbial buzz has to do with the Slim in us remaining.
- "The Rollerbladers of Sulaymaniyah" offers unexpected contrasts traveling through the Kurdish Iraq.
- "Ask Me About Psych Rock In Zambia" is a musical journey back to Zambia the 70s.

The comic texts are crafted overall quite convincingly implemented and refined mostly with audio. However, there are also things in detail, which could be prepared by covered. For example, one can argue sure about whether it is appropriate for the endemic fish species to show "Secret Vote" just drawn - as I would have liked to have a picture to look at it more closely. Nevertheless Symbolia is fresh and worth more than just a glance.

The question "Why bother?" Answer the makers way on her blog - very true to form as a comic. It will look like this:

Related Links

Graphic Journalism: Lined reports - not only for young readers

Graphic journalism comic reportage "Excerpts from Egypt"

Text design on the web is monoculture: Article pages on journalistic sites see today in most cases still the same as 15 years ago - a main column for the text in the middle of the page, a couple of additional videos, graphics, or audio in the marginalia and around a brightly- flashing potpourri of different services. So that was from the beginning, and so it is today. exciting Even the exceptions prove the rule.

The reasons for this designerische bankruptcy declaration are all fully aware of the online editors: content management systems set textdesignerischen creative ideas allerengste limits. Variation is not provided. Who it anyway tackles and converts non-conforming page layouts, its template must manually develop or adapt - an effort which usually appears too large for the editorial production days and is also economically not justified in most cases. Snowfall on, it is rumored, 11 employees have worked for six months - for any normal editorial unimaginable effort.

Users thirst for fresh text design
How much it but thirsts users and users to read friendlier and more varied page layouts, can currently be seen in the exuberant responses to a web report of the New York Times under the title "Snowfall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek" are there, the experiences lawinenverschütterter skiier described - and in a very beautiful text design.

The reactions to "Snowfall" on Twitter.

Same here to talk about the future of storytelling is probably somewhat exaggerated euphoric. Succeeded the report but definitely (by the way not only visually).

The really special thing about this text layout is: it binds the multimedia components consistently in the flow of reading a text. Steve Duenes, graphics director of the New York Times, commented on Poynter.org : "Our goal was to create a Erzählweg that does not contain multimedia detours. The reader should experience the story narrative liquid "Especially disturbing reading the back-and-forth between text and multimedia reception is to be avoided with this layout pattern.:

"Our hope is thatthere's some amount of surprise but thatthis kind of feels natural," said Duenes. "That it does not seem like a puzzle or something did has to be figured out, but as you read it just makes sense. The experience ... sort of Absorbs you. That was really the intention - to try to get closer to a seamless and coherent article did included all of the elements did the article made strong. "

Anyone who reads the story, can only find: The goal has been largely achieved.

Own experiments with Github
Similar approaches were and are indeed quite recently, for example, has the business site Quartz term tablet with page layouts, at least in the professional world caused a stir. similar for The Long, Strange Trip of Dock Ellis on ESPN. And who looks back very far, for example, can also affinities to the "28Seconds" story recognize the St. Petersburg Times about an airplane accident. Nevertheless, as conclusively and convincingly as in "Snowfall" text and multimedia components have so far been rarely linked. This is Webtextdesign of a piece and not just a simple combination clapping different media modes.

Would of course be welcome if the Snowfall model for future special stories not only in the big sites like the New York Times school made, but also on smaller sites for longer stories would be used. Finally, the online journalism is also not in the very best reputation, sometimes simply because it looks bad. multimedia mastermind Julius Tröger has in his Twitter response to the New York Times story pointed out that it is appropriate for their own forms of experiments Online tools are, for example Github. So off.

Update
Julius Tröger just comes yet another example of these so-called parallax scrolling layouts offered by the Guardian. Thanks for the link-tip!

The Atlantic Wire: Interview with Steve Duenes Snowfall layout designers and Andrew Keuneman

The Atlantic Wire: 'Snowfall' Is not the Future of Journalism

Snowfall as a video (10 minutes)

Who a more detailed look at the costs and stand has thrown his body and stomach kiosk today, could take effect as the last hour of newspaper reporting have beaten.

The TIME headlined "newspapers under pressure" and had a more service-oriented and the same rotating guide at hand: "How good journalism can survive." At the top of the page Financial Times cried a "It's like crying - how readers respond to the impending end of the FTD." And the Handelsblatt acclaimed lead story in his own show with a defiant paroligen "The newspaper is alive!". A real Steingart.

Fact is, in fact: The prospects for many, especially for smaller newspaper titles are grim, the structural change is in full swing.

But the fact is: The economic problems of many newspapers are homemade for the most part. In the decision-making levels, it lacked a long time almost anywhere on the courage to admit that for many decades lucrative business model of the newspaper is to be interpreted as a two-new and redesigned product markets.

The challenge
With the advent of Internet publishers crumbled initially very einkömmliche monopolist pension: At one time the display prices were under enormous competitive pressure, media performance was transparent, scattering losses could be targeted avoided - and the advertisers quickly learned that they are on the web for the same money in many cases pinpoint reach the customer as with the newspaper. This is still the core.

Was affected from the beginning but also the reader market. The Web, not only were the media services comparable, but also the editorial services. Not infrequently exposed alleged research web surfing than the same material everywhere supplier news agencies, in the worst case, even when hardly hid by gereichter PR material. Such a hard light on journalistic work had not existed in the analog world this way.

In the comment areas of many published articles online about the current newspaper dying is also currently being noticeable that quite a few readers are dissatisfied with the quality of local journalism leaves, young or old. You can dismiss it as hogwash trolliges the course. But it would be a mistake: Analytically, the newspaper is a generic sui generis over the web in many cases functional disadvantage. The lasting and just rekindled debate about the usefulness of journalistic standard forms "Message" and "report" is just one proof among many. Even the newspaper is in younger ages long as "Newsletter of yesterday" - already out of date when it is hot off the morning in the mailbox of the parents.

Do not worry is still hip: Professional journalism will undoubtedly remain in great demand in complex societies. Whether he will be in the future but continue to be offered by editors, whose research output is now found on printed paper remains open.

The specification
It is possible, indeed: It needs a noticeable increase over the competitors, which is formulated especially chosen verfochtener journalistic independence. It takes a willingness to reader contact at eye level. It needs concrete investments in research and personnel. It takes a more attractive for young people. And it needs converting to cross medium not only in the morning at the post office box or mail slot meets his recipient, but continued throughout the day wherever it seems right to serve. The editorial power has to snuggle up to the time of day information needs of readers, content and shapes. Quite a lot has been left in the past 15 years.

The Survival Guide, the TIME editorial in sound bites has put together "Germany's most important media makers" repeatedly, because only what is already known. Best to the point it brings Steffen Klusmann, editor of the soon no longer appearing FTD. Ironically. To the question: "How good journalism can survive," he replies, "He must remain independent and credible and convince his readers." For him glued the future of journalism quite obviously not on paper. The future of journalism is journalism.

The fate of Frankfurter Rundschau and the Financial Times Germany leave no doubt: It is really time now.

"Cross ... - what?" - Will not go back today asking if by "cross-media storytelling" or "cross-media" is mentioned. Finally, there is the term then but already a few years. Really, the concept is clearly contoured but still not: In Barcamps cross-media storytelling has recently been isolated from many neatly trans-media storytelling, other applies both as synonymous, others juggle afloat with delicate differences for hypermedia storytelling. Yes, what then?

One thing is certain: Out of all the nomenclature confusion exists conceptually for a cross-media indisputable core. It looks like this: There is content - in the form of writing, photography, graphics, sound and moving image as. There are different playout channels - from print and website about app updates, OnAir and podcast, up to Twitter and Facebook.

Tell the mashup media
The digital computer technology now makes it possible, at least in principle, to link all these content with each other and any crop mixes, each play channel accurately. In the web jargon that is then "mashen" content.

Basically, there are so innumerable options narrative. To grasp the concept of "cross-media storytelling" for the editorial practice clear, three of these options seem essential. For this, the following fictional examples of a cross-media working newspaper office:

1 Example: For "Van der Vaart returns to the HSV" there is a current written report including a video interview published on a website page. A content will be told within a Ausspielkanals (website) with different media modes (writing and moving image). That is multimedia storytelling.

2 Example: For "Van der Vaart returns to the HSV" there is in the current issue a verschriftliches newspaper interview. And on a site-page is identical in content to the interview on video. A table is repeated here in several different media Ausspielkanälen in each mode. That is multiple use.

3 Example: For "Van der Vaart returns to the HSV" there is a continuing coverage of several playout. The scenario looks like this: Van der Vaart arrives at the Hamburg airport. From there it is from the previous year a live video stream, embedded in a sheet page on the site. Parallel tweets from van der Vaart fans are integrated as Twitter Wall in this preliminary page. On this "three-component" website (preliminary plus live video plus Twitterwall) identified two following reports: In a press conference at noon, which can also be followed via live video stream on the site, and on the big exclusive interview with van der Vaart which appear in the next print edition. This is then cross-media storytelling in the strict sense.

Cross-media storytelling is so simple a cross-media storytelling. Micro-stories are linked by the media across chasms to macro-stories. Technically, it is important for each recorded point of contact - content and recipient-oriented - use the appropriate media modes respectively. Each completed micro-story can stand on its own, but also is always part of the plot of the broader macro story.

Dramatically, a cross-media macro story must neither necessarily linear (as in Example 3) was applied even necessarily be nonlinear, it is a free structurable text space. With one exception: Simple recycling is not a cross-media storytelling.

And what is the difference for transmedia storytelling? This remains a difficult question to answer. A clear juxtaposition of these concepts do not exist, this cutting abundant quantities. Basically, transmedia storytelling - be understood as synonymous - in the sense of the definition of the term creator Henry Jenkins. At the same time, it seems quite as the non-linear variation of the cross-media storytelling, in any case where the trans-media manifesto, written at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2011, is assumed to be valid. It states:

The experiencer no longer follows one dramatic thread but chooses among several intersecting storylines Which merge into a single story-universe.

Either way, journalistic storytelling is in the mashup media extremely flexible, extremely varied - and at all levels much more complex, in the forms, in planning, in the production processes in the art. The classic forms of representation - of the message to reportage - are embedded into a universe of new possibilities narrative, multimedia storytelling is the basic condition for cross-media. The editorial planning is faced with new requirements and must specify, for example, early mediation competently topics for which an increase in expenses is justified. The technique must turn all thought possible actually quite possible and requires appropriate CMS. And then of course it needs more people who understand all this and are able to afford.

Related Links

All Blog Posts on "Storytelling" on this blog

Felix Baumgartner's supersonic speed record jump from the stratosphere has shown it once again clear: the beautiful old order of analogue media world is irrevocably gone. In the pre-Web era there was journalism, where the PR, the journalists here, there, the audience, here are the companies where the editors. And for the universe, NASA was responsible.

Today, it has become difficult to the media to sort things so neatly: Journalistic publishing houses produce for a long time customer magazines and newspapers employees in the corporate order. Readers operate - even in terms of journalistic standards - absolutely professional websites. And companies like Redbull see themselves as cross-media publishing media companies - company-owned TV stations, print editorial and production teams including App. The boundaries are blurred. It's Mash-time in the media industry. Or as they say in journalism: It's that time of the media delimitation.

Content creates buzz
A recent delimitation appearances in the media business is the Content Marketing, sometimes called brand journalism companies produce quasi-journalistic content in-house, make themselves as counselors instances, editorial relined social media platforms or hip lifestyle trend Guides not only for their regulars indispensable, but also generate media coverage and buzz (recommendations) and compete in digital media is directly originated journalistic offerings.

The trigger of this trend is a simple observation from marketing: In developed markets is no longer sold only about quality, but essentially about "Stories". Shower manufacturers Redbull example staged popular sports at the top level and reported on events in his powerful visual formats across the entire media chain, all produced in-house Red Bull Media House. American Express presents with his counselors site "Open Forum" as a competent partner editorially small and medium business development, and food giant General Mills developed with a Tablespoon perfectly maintained social media platform for cooking recipes.

The athletic shoe as a philosophical statement
The principle: Those who understand specifically address with rousing or utility value of its content customers have an advantage over its competitors. Products are therefore charged by appropriate story lines with gefühligen properties. The athletic shoe is a philosophical statement that the membership card shower for surfers or snowboarders milieu, the credit card business angel contact. Storytelling is the key factor.

Also in Germany, this mechanism is understood, here and there in any case, in this country, the trend slowly breaks the quasi-journalism track. The most visible sign: in the communications departments of many companies' budgets are reallocated away from traditional advertising, in the direction towards content marketing, or so it is reported in trade journals such as Kress or horizon. For Rainer Burkhardt of KircherBurkhardt sits in the company by the knowledge that "advertising content in digital media do not function properly and you will come much further with editorial content."

More demand for journalistic expertise
Thus, if future business - at least partially - be understood as media houses and raise its profile journalistically, it means far-reaching consequences for the entire media market for advertising agencies, PR agencies, for print media houses - just to name a few. Corporate publishing agencies with proven expertise in print, such as Kircher Burkhardt extend their service portfolio is already quite lively to digital. PR agencies may tend to be redundant and wonder if they have internal all the necessary journalistic skills to adapt quickly to their range. For print media houses might disappear again advertising volume and grows them on the web offer additional competition. But above all, tend to rise in the media market, the demand for journalistic mediation skills. Paid less young editors and young editors should register with the interest probably.

In their own right: Medienkontor Heijnk checks and optimizes your content marketing strategy.

Update, 20.12.2012
In February 2013 by me appears in the dpunkt-Verlag (Heidelberg) is the "Guide to Content Marketing".