Tools for highly engaged, quality journalism
Knight Lab's digital tools effectively support traditional storytelling by integrating multimedia elements, creating a more engaging experience for readers and elevating the quality of journalism. But they can also be used in communication projects.
Engaging readers in the stories we tell has become increasingly essential in journalism. We want our readers to be not only informed but also actively involved in the issues and rapid transformations shaping our societies.
Northwestern University's Knight Lab - an interdisciplinary group of designers, developers, educators, and students that aims to "push journalism into new spaces" - supports journalists in this pursuit by providing a diverse and growing set of digital tools designed to enrich traditional storytelling with multimedia narratives. One important aspect is that all the tools are developed directly with the support of journalists and journalism students, prioritising their needs and considering their limited informatics abilities.
Some of these tools are still in beta. In contrast, others are well established and used by thousands of journalists worldwide, including those at major media outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian.
Among the six available "Storytelling" tools developed by Knight Lab, we have highlighted four that are both promising and user-friendly, even for those without advanced technical skills:
- Juxtapose: This interactive tool allows readers to easily compare two pictures. It offers the option to create an animated GIF that automatically switches between "before and after" images or a slider that lets the audience control the comparison. Juxtapose is ideal for illustrating the impact of single dramatic events or making long-term changes visible. Example: Berlin 1945 und heute (morgenpost.de)
- Soundcite: Ever wanted to immerse readers in the nature sounds you encountered while reporting from a protected area? Soundcite makes it possible: it enables journalists to embed short inline audio clips into their text, adding a powerful layer of context, data, or real-time evidence. Example: The Ballad of Geeshie and Elvie - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
- StoryMap: This hybrid tool combines visual and/or geographic references with a series of events, allowing readers to "connect the dots" between the story and its location in time and space. It also facilitates deeper exploration of the subject, adding layers of information beyond the written narrative. Example: Hieronymus Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" - StoryMapJS - Northwestern University KnightLab
- Timeline: Timelines are a classic method for visualising historical events, and Knight Lab's tool takes them to the next level by enabling the creation of dynamic, interactive timelines. These can help create a more engaging narrative, enhanced with media, anecdotes, and additional data, making it easier for readers to follow along and dive deeper into the story. Example: The History Of Wine Timeline | How Wine Colonised The World (vinepair.com)
Explore all of Knight Lab's digital tools here.
