This is the weekend edition of TheMarioBlog and will be updated as needed. Because we have Spring Break the following week at Columbia University, I will take a few days off. The blog will resume publication Monday, March 22.
I had a fantastic time speaking to the Adobe team, and it was a relaxed, well paced dialog when it came to the Q & A session, which followed my presentation and continued for one hour.
The team were interested in the concept of linear storytelling, of creating content for the small of all platforms—the phone screen–and then taking it to other platforms. I was delighted that the software engineers and product managers in attendance were paying attention, and asking good questions.
After all, these talented technical types are also news consumers, and some asked questions that had to do with their habits of news consumption:
- “Am I unique in disliking articles that are all narrative without snippets of information and takeaways?”
- “Do you think that linear storytelling may lend itself to more click bait?”
- “What happens to the visually impaired when stories are done lineally, with narrative and visuals mixing?”
- “Has any EyeTrack Research been conducted about visual storytelling on mobile?”
- “How much research is available about the effect of linear storytelling and retention of audience?”
- “Could the way information is presented in general learn from the lessons journalism is learning through mobile storytelling?”
I emphasized that this area of linear visual storytelling is in its infancy and much needs to be done in the way of research.
All in all, a good two hours spent with the Adobe folks. I hope that good things will come out of this and that the engineers in attendance will be thinking of how to apply their talent to come up with technical solutions to facilitate linear visual storytelling for mobile.
My message to the tech types of Adobe: Think templates!
Good strategy to offer takeaways within a story for scanners
Notice that what the Times editors are practicing here is the old takeaways and snippets strategy, but NOT at the usual spot, the start of the story. Instead, you find it in the middle. For those quickly scrolling, this box may be all they see at a given moment, enough to get the highlights of the story.
Somehow, it feels as if strategies applied to newsletters are beginning to make their way into full stories. A good thing.
This is how story begins:
And here is where a box with takeaways appears, right in the middle of the narrative:
Read the full story here:
Inquire about our mobile storytelling workshops!
Every week I bring my mobile storytelling workshop to a different newsroom around the world. I begin with a 90-minute presentation about the essentials of crafting/editing/designing stories for mobile consumption. Then I break the participants into groups and for two hours they produce a mobile story which they then present to the entire group for evaluation. It works all the time.
Another type of Garcia Media program is when we sign up for mobile storytelling coaching after completion of the first workshop. Once a week, or as planned, I work virtually with a team of reporters, editors, designers on actual stories that will be published as linear mobile stories. Let me know if you are interested in more information: mario@garciamedia.com
Professors: get your review version of The Story on time for fall classes
As an academic, I know the importance of having the right tools to advance our students, especially on the important subject of mobile storytelling. Please drop me an email if you would like to sample The Story in its digital edition: mario@garciamedia.com
Start writing or type / to choose a block
The full trilogy of The Story now available–3 books to guide you through a mobile first strategy. Whether you’re a reporter, editor, designer, publisher, corporate communicator, The Story is for you! https://amazon
TheMarioBlog post # 3291