Illustrating the newsPhotos, graphics and captions

WEEK 10

Why Illustrate? Create interest Clarify message Information is stronger as visual

Pie Chart Indicate ratios or apportionment Useful doe showing percentages To be effective:

Begin at 12 o’clock position, drawing the largest wedge first

Include the actual percentage or absolute value for each wedge

Distinguish wedges with color, shading, or cross-hatching

Pie ChartStudent Grades 2002

C26%

D16%

A16%

B42%

Line graphs & Bar graphs Illustrate disparities in numerical data

Line graphs – trends over a period of time Bar graphs – highlighting comparisons

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

'00 '01 '02 '03

MaleFemale

0102030405060708090

'00 '01 '02 '03

MaleFemale

Tables Not as visually interesting as line graphs or

charts Do allow for inclusion of specific data

YEAR '00 '01 '02 '03

MALES 20 30 32 28

FEMALES 80 70 68 72

Diagrams or illustrations Can be more concise Demonstrate a process or procedure Create a picture, when a photograph is not

available Allow for a satirical visualization

Cartoons Sketches

Maps of locations

Diagrams or Illustrations

From George Washington to George W. Bush, the name George has a long and famous history.

In 2003, George was still one of the 10 most popular names for male babies in the United States.

“Blah, blah, blah, blah and blah…” said former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Photography Composition

the sum of all the visual tricks a photographer uses to make a picture pleasing and/or challenging to the eye.

includes how you lead the viewer’s eye around the picture

how you control interrelationships between elements of the scene and

the ways in which you emphasize one part of the scene over another.

Photography Horizontal vs. Vertical

Pictures of individual people are usually better as verticals than horizontals.

Near-far relationships are more dramatic in verticals.

Create abstract quality by showing a vertical piece rather than the horizontal whole.

Photography People

The heart of people photography is expression; the expression on a subject’s face is key.

Second to expression is gesture; the way someone places or uses his/her hands and arms, the way he/she carries him/herself, posture, body language.

Animals Get on their eye-level, with animals expression is almost

entirely in the eyes. Show animals interacting with people; it makes candid

pictures more interesting—you never know what is going to happen next.

Photography Landscapes

any images that invite the viewer into an environment. the place, not its occupants, is the most important

thing about the picture. Giving a familiar scene a new look can create an

interesting landscape shot. Move to a different angle (higher or lower), choose a

different time of day (dawn to dusk) or a different light (cloudy days, different seasons).

Photo Cropping Changes the “feeling” of the photo DO NOT change the photo’s intent Software can alter photographs

Be ethical Does changing the photo change the intent? Will the reader know the photo has been altered? Does the subject know the photo will be altered?

Photo Cropping

Photo Captions Photo captions are an integral part of

newspaper storytelling, but they are often the most underdeveloped element in the mix of words, graphics, and photographs in a newspaper.

- Kenny Irby, The Poynter Institute

Photo Captions Check the facts. Be accurate! Avoid stating the obvious. "Dennis Rodman

smiles as he kicks a broadcast photographer in the groin."

Always identify the main people in the photograph.

Avoid making judgments. "An unhappy citizen watches the protest..." Can you be sure that he is unhappy? Or is he hurting. Or just not photogenic.

Photo Captions Don't assume. Ask questions in your effort to

inform and be specific. Be willing to contact and include the subject.

Avoid using terms like "is shown, is pictured, and looks on."

If the photograph is a historic or file photo, include the date that it was taken. Mayor David Dinkins, 1993.

Photo Captions A photograph captures a moment in time. Whenever

possible, use present tense. This will creates a sense of immediacy and impact.

Descriptions are very helpful for viewer. Use commas to set off directions from the captions

to the picture. "Kachira Irby, above,...“ Conversational language works best. Don't use

clichés. Write the caption as if you're telling a family member a story.

Photo Captions

Aphids on Cotton

No-Till Soybeans