ELEMENTS OF DIGITAL STORYTELLING(JOURNALISM)

Presented By

Justus Cyril E.

WHAT IS DIGITAL STORYTELLING

Introduction

Overview

Explanation

Elements of Digital Storytelling

Introduction

• The first type of digital journalism, called teletext, was invented in Great Britain in 1970.. Teletext is a system allowing viewers to choose which stories they wish to read and see it immediately.

• There is no absolute agreement as to what constitutes digital journalism. Scholars argue that "Web and mobile platforms demand us to adopt a platform-free mindset for an all-inclusive production approach by creating the (digital) contents first, then distributing them via appropriate platforms.“

• The repurposing of print content for an online audience is sufficient for some, while others require content created with the digital medium’s unique features like hypertextuality

overview

• Fewer barriers to entry, lowered distribution costs, and diverse computer networking technologies have led to the widespread practice of digital journalism.

• It has democratized the flow of information that was previously controlled by traditional media including newspapers, magazines, radio, and television.

• Some have asserted that greater degree of creativity can be exercised with digital storytelling/journalism when compared to traditional journalism and traditional media.

• The digital aspect may be central to the journalistic message and remains, to some extent, within the creative control of the writer, editor, and/or publisher.

Explanation

• Digital Storytelling also known as Digital Journalism or Online Journalism is a contemporary form of journalism where editorial content is distributed via the Internet as opposed to publishing via print or broadcast.

• What constitutes 'digital journalism' is debated by scholars. However the primary product of storytelling/journalism, which is news and features on current affairs, is presented solely or in combination as text, audio, video and some interactive forms, and disseminated through digital media platforms.

Elements of Digital Storytelling

• Interactive, multimedia, experiential… these terms are frequently used to describe digital storytelling. These concepts, however, are too broad and open to interpretation.

• This Presentation attempts to clarify and explore these ideas.

• From Our Examination of thousands of digital stories we observed five elements all present in each: – media, – action, – relationship, – context, and – communication.

Cont’d…

• Below are the Elements and an overview, description, and examples of each. This Study serves three purposes indicated below with explanations for each.

• Additionally the research and resources information serve as a reference for relevant materials.

• Since the digital environment is evolving, the taxonomy is meant to be a starting point for further discussion, We would welcome your opinions and contributions at the end of this presentation.

PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

1. Establish a Taxonomy

2. Analyze Current Practices

3. Measure the Effect

1. Establish a Taxonomy

• The digital storytelling taxonomy has five parts:

• Media: usage.

• Action: built into the content or required by users.

• Relationship: potential between story and user.

• Context: provided by other materials.

• Communication: potential.

2. Analyze Current Practices

• Applying the Elements taxonomy to content analyses of digital stories provides understanding of current practices.

• These content analyses will establish baseline measurements of the usage of different Elements.

• With these baselines, changes in the adoption of various digital storytelling features can be gauged.

3. Measure the Effects

• There has been speculation about, but little measurement of, the effects various digital story forms have on users.

• The taxonomy provides a framework for establishing a research agenda.

• Look in the Research area for links to reports and studies focused on different aspects of digital storytelling and their effects on audience.

DEFINING THE ELEMENTS

1. MEDIA 2. ACTION 3. RELATIONSHIP 4. CONTEXT 5. COMMUNICATION

MEDIA

• Media refers to the material(s) used to create the story package. Unique to the digital story space is the ability to use any type and combination of media. There are four considerations when looking at media: 1. Configuration is the relationship between media

used in the story package; 2. Type identifies the medium or media used to tell the

story; 3. Currentness indicates synchronous or asynchronous

delivery; 4. Time / Space addresses editing of the content.

ACTION

• Digital stories have action in two areas: 1. movement of or within the content, and

2. movement required by the user to access the content.

• Legacy media can have movement within the content (i.e., video) and required by the user (i.e., turn the page) but online stories have different action models.

• Flash animations, user controlled slide shows, and clicking to prompt the content’s movement are unique to online storytelling.

RELATIONSHIP

• The relationship between the digital story and the user can be open or closed based on the following five aspects: 1. Linearity refers to the order the content can be accessed; 2. Customization addresses content personalization; 3. Calculation considers the ability to tally; 4. Manipulation looks at the user’s ability to play with the

content 5. Appendage addresses the addition of content by the user.

• If any one of these five aspects is in the “open” condition, the content is “open”. If all of the aspects are in the “closed” condition, the content is closed.

CONTEXT

• Context is defined as, “that which surrounds, and gives meaning to, something else.” Context in newspapers, for example, can be provided by sidebar stories but there are space limitations in print media.

• Digital storytelling allows limitless context through linking to related, relevant information.

• Standalone stories are self-contained and do not utilize context links. Linked stories provide access to additional information.

• Linked stories have four considerations: 1. Technique identifies link location; 2. Purpose indicates reason for inclusion; 3. Source addresses origin; 4. Content describes the nature of the link.

COMMUNICATION

• Multi-nodal communication makes the online environment unique from previous media.

• Two-way communication allows the user to communicate with the content developer or other users.

• One-way communication does not allow the user to communicate digitally.

• The aspects of communication include: 1. Configuration - specifies the directionality of the

communication; 2. Type - identifies the communication method(s) used; 3. Currentness - indicates synchronous or asynchronous delivery; 4. Moderation - addresses editing of the communication; 5. Purpose - describes the reason for the communication.

QUICK RESOURCE REVIEW

THE END APPLAUSE!!!