I have spent a big portion of my week talking about linear visual storytelling that adapts to how we read news and get information on mobile devices, specifically our smartphones. It was a centerpiece of my recent closing keynote at the WAN IFRA Middle East Conference, and it should continue to be a message that I expect to take beyond my classroom at Columbia University and my Multiplatform Design & Storytelling course.

That is why I have rejoiced reading this story that Netflix plans to  explore streaming mobile-specific cuts of its original movies and TV shows, to satisfy what it says is ” a growing audience of mobile Netflix watchers.”

I hope this happens. It may inspire publishers and editors to do the same with the content of their newspapers and magazines, much of which is now stuffed into mobile devices the same way it was prepared for print and online.

I do not propose that every single story gets two or three different treatments. However, there are usually a few stories each day, stories of consequence, visually interesting stories, exclusives that can and should be given a different treatment for mobile devices.

I applaud such newspapers as The New York Times, Aftenposten (Norway), The Washington Post, where we begin to see this happening.  I am impressed with the just started series about Turkey that the Times is publishing, a real showcase of words and visual assets that are created to live together. The reader wins. Even though these are long narratives, they are designed to be read comfortably on small screens while just simply scrolling.  Take a look here:

Keep it up, Netflix. We can always learn from what those guys at the movies do.

Mobile Media Culture in the Americas: The Digital Divide

March 23
Miami, Florida
USA

I will be one of the speakers/panelists in this conference, a full day of interactive analysis of how information and communication technologies—specifically, mobile media—affect Latin American and Caribbean societies. How are mobile media bridging divides? Is that bridge strengthening democracy, social mobility, and economic equality and supporting growth and development? How has innovation changed the newsroom and news media landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean? What is being done to support enhanced journalistic coverage of our hemisphere?

For more information: https://mmca17.splashthat.com/

In this webinar, Dr. Garcia will cover how to: 

1) Go where your readers are: mobile. How do you create a more visually compelling and interactive experience for your mobile users while facing the challenge of a smaller screen size?

2) Be the source of their news – starting with their inbox every morning. How do you create a personalised, informative, and indispensable newsletter for your audience? 

3) Serve your readers with high quality, non-obstructive ads or face ad blockers. How do you organize your newsroom to offer sponsored content while not compromising editorial integrity?

VOZ Media Conference

TheMarioBlog post #2590