As part of its Axios Media Trends, this entry is not an article, but a typical Axios presentation full of information nuggets that encapsulate the story at a glance.
True, I wish there was a longer piece to go with all that is included here. At a glance, and as I suggested to my Columbia journalism students, this is an outline of my course.
Highlight:
From pop-up newsletters to podcasts and short courses to documentaries, newsrooms are getting creative about presenting long-form journalism in the Internet era.
Why it matters: Streaming and smartphones have made it easier to turn big stories into more digestible formats.
Indeed, streaming and smartphones have made it easier to turn big stories into more digestible formats. It does not mean that all editorial outlets apply this. I am convinced that about 75% of all news and information is currently created and conceptualized to be read in a “square, horizontal” format—think laptop, desktop screens, or printed page.
That is why I spend my days emphasizing the importance of thinking small to large as every story is planned. We must write/edit/design for the smallest canvas, I write in my book, The Story. It begins with abandoning the square shape and adopting the linear one as we see here:
However, that is not the thinking that prevails, and I am a man on a mission to change that, one journalist/editor/reporter at a time.
The fact that Axios calls attention to this type of storytelling that makes it easier to consume information on mobile devices is fantastic news.
The ending of the piece is quite telling:
Traditional editorial standards for text can sometimes be difficult to navigate with new mediums.
Sometimes? How about are almost always?
How can we look at new mediums with an eye toward innovation?
It all begins with a mandate from the top in the newsroom to think small, mobile first. It is happening. Not as rapidly as I would like, however.
And, Axios, why it matters? Because we will attract, engage and retain more readers when stories are perfect for consumption on the one platform where most are consuming it these days.
Think small to large.
Think mobile first.
It matters!
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 # 3289