Interactive Media History

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Questions and Answers

What was one of the main challenges Geoff McGhee faced while working at ABC News?

Low audience engagement with online content

Creating interactives with unique URLs (correct)

Limited access to images for news stories

The team lacked funding for projects

Which browsers were predominantly used during the time McGhee was developing interactives?

Firefox and Opera

Netscape and Internet Explorer (correct)

Chrome and Safari

Edge and Brave

What was the method used by McGhee to create maps for interactives?

3D modeling software

Vector graphics editing

Using traditional newspaper layout techniques

Overlaying transparent GIFs (correct)

Which project created by McGhee garnered significant attention?

Pages for each Supreme Court justice Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of McGhee's work with interactives?

It solidified the concept of interactive storytelling in journalism Signup and view all the answers

How did McGhee describe the interactive experience despite technical limitations?

It went beyond episodic journalism Signup and view all the answers

What type of journalism were McGhee and DeVigal blending with their programming skills?

Traditional reporting Signup and view all the answers

What limitation did early monitors present during McGhee's interactive developments?

They were small, ranging from eleven to twelve inches Signup and view all the answers

What was one major feature introduced by The Lawrence Journal-World for reporting on drought in Kansas?

An interactive map of rainfall statistics Signup and view all the answers

What type of interactive experience was developed for every University of Kansas men's basketball and football game?

An Xbox version of each game Signup and view all the answers

How did The Lawrence Journal-World's innovative approach affect other media organizations?

They sought to replicate its interactive features Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of The Lawrence Journal-World's interactive journalism attracted significant media attention?

Its staff journalists who could program Signup and view all the answers

Who was responsible for leading the web projects at The Lawrence Journal-World?

Rob Curley Signup and view all the answers

Why did The Journal-World have to schedule visiting hours for other media organizations?

The interest grew too intense to accommodate spontaneous visits Signup and view all the answers

What method did The Lawrence Journal-World use to show the impact of irrigation on water supplies?

A database of every well in the state Signup and view all the answers

Which award did Adrian Holovaty receive for his work in journalism?

The Batten Award Signup and view all the answers

What was a defining moment in the history of interactive journalism as illustrated in this content?

The success of The Lawrence Journal-World's unique projects Signup and view all the answers

What innovative feature did chicagocrime.org provide?

An online street map overlaid with crime statistics Signup and view all the answers

What was EveryBlock, the startup founded by Holovaty?

A platform for local news and data Signup and view all the answers

Which major newspaper praised chicagocrime.org in 2005?

The New York Times Signup and view all the answers

What dual role did Adrian Holovaty embody in his field?

Programmer and journalist Signup and view all the answers

What recognition did Holovaty seek after creating EveryBlock?

Mass audience reach Signup and view all the answers

What characterized Holovaty's contributions to journalism according to industry reports?

His technical expertise blended with journalistic skills Signup and view all the answers

What did The Chicago Tribune highlight about Holovaty's work in 2008?

His programming skills and innovations Signup and view all the answers

How did Time magazine benefit from the quiz about time wasted on Facebook?

It achieved its biggest traffic day at that time. Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the 'Travoltify Your Name' quiz on Slate?

It brought new visitors to the Slate website. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of 'Time Labs' as created by Time magazine?

To centralize all interactive content for visibility. Signup and view all the answers

Why are interactives becoming critical in newsroom economics?

They engage readers for a longer duration, impacting advertising benefits. Signup and view all the answers

What factor has contributed to the increasing importance of interactive journalists?

Their success is now measured by external criteria linked to news organizations' survival. Signup and view all the answers

How do advertisers perceive the time readers spend on websites that feature interactives?

It can lead to higher advertisement rates due to greater engagement. Signup and view all the answers

What trend was observed following the appointment of a new leader for the interactive data team at Time?

The popularity of interactive content increased dramatically. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about quizzes and interactive content according to critics?

They distract from serious news topics. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered the first instance of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in the United States?

CBS using the Remington Rand UNIVAC in 1952 Signup and view all the answers

Which newspaper featured data charts on public education in its first issue?

The Guardian Signup and view all the answers

In what decade did computational journalism broadly emerge?

1950s Signup and view all the answers

Which technology did Philip Meyer use in 1967 for analyzing survey data about the Detroit riots?

IBM 360 mainframe Signup and view all the answers

What historical journalism movement is noted for inspiring data visualization and collection techniques?

The survey movement of the 1900s Signup and view all the answers

What were early American newspapers in the eighteenth century primarily tracking?

Stock prices and commodity imports/exports Signup and view all the answers

What method does computational journalism primarily apply to journalism?

Computer science methods Signup and view all the answers

Which development in journalism occurred in the late 1800s involving electoral information?

The introduction of maps on front pages Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rise of Interactive Journalism

NPR's David Folkenflik reported on Lawrence Journal-World in 2005, highlighting its innovative approach to journalism that included a local newspaper, cable TV channel, and specialized websites.
The Journal-World featured unique interactive content like an Xbox version of University of Kansas sports games, leveraging user engagement through video game replays dating back to 2002.
By the mid-2000s, The Journal-World's interactive efforts gained national media attention, prompting tours from other news organizations seeking to replicate its innovations.

Pioneers in Interactive Journalism

Geoff McGhee, an early innovator, contributed to interactive journalism at ABC News, facing challenges like slow internet speeds and small monitor sizes during the late 1990s to early 2000s.
McGhee created interactive features using pop-up windows and JavaScript, allowing users to engage with content beyond traditional storytelling methods.
His efforts included an interactive showcase of Supreme Court justices and features like polls and quizzes that set the groundwork for modern interactive journalism.

ChicagoCrime.org and Adrian Holovaty

Adrian Holovaty's ChicagoCrime.org combined Chicago Police data with Google maps to visually present crime statistics, earning significant praise from major media outlets.
Holovaty's work transitioned into the startup EveryBlock, showcasing the potential of combining programming skills with journalistic storytelling in the evolving landscape of news.
His successes emphasized the power of mapping and visual data representation in journalism, influencing how news is delivered online.

Impact of Interactives on News Organizations

Interactive content, including quizzes and data visualizations, significantly increased audience engagement and traffic for news sites, as seen with Time magazine's viral quizzes.
Time established “Time Labs” to showcase its interactive stories, recognizing the economic value of increased reader engagement for advertisers.
The rise of interactive journalism has created a distinct subfield, essential for the survival of traditional news organizations in a digital age.

Evolution of Data Journalism

Data journalism's roots can be traced back to the eighteenth century with early reporting on stock prices and commodity imports, evolving into more complex visualizations over time.
C.W. Anderson notes various moments in journalism history where data played a pivotal role, including scientific methods in the 1960s and the rise of statistical journalism in the early 2000s.
Computational journalism emerged in the 1950s, with significant instances like CBS using UNIVAC technology to predict presidential election outcomes, marking the integration of computer science in journalism.

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Description

Explore the beginnings of interactive media through the experiences of Geoff McGhee, a pioneer who contributed to early innovations in the field. Learn about the challenges faced during the late 1990s and early 2000s, as well as the advancements in web design that shaped online news. This quiz delves into the evolution of journalism in the digital age.