{"id":1179002,"date":"2021-07-12T08:20:24","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T15:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=1179002"},"modified":"2021-07-14T15:20:25","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T22:20:25","slug":"seven-lessons","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons","title":{"rendered":"Seven lessons from the 2020 ArcGIS StoryMaps competition winners"},"author":6331,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[37131],"tags":[23161,759462,366052,756811],"industry":[],"product":[36611,380802],"class_list":["post-1179002","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-constituent-engagement","tag-maps","tag-narratives","tag-sdg","tag-stories","product-story-maps","product-arcgis-storymaps"],"acf":{"short_description":"These stories show us how to craft compelling multimedia narratives","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

As authors, we want to reach our audience, keep them engaged, and help them understand the ideas we\u2019re sharing. What follows is a look at four of the recent winners<\/strong><\/a> of the 2020 Story Map competition, highlighting some of the really clever and effective things these authors did to achieve these goals. You don\u2019t need to do each of these things in every story, but having these techniques in your toolkit will help elevate your work. Let\u2019s dig into why these are stories we love.<\/p>\n

Great news: While this post looks at what<\/em> and why<\/em> these techniques make for good storytelling, here is a series<\/a><\/strong> of companion ArcGIS Learn Lessons that will be a deep dive on how<\/em> to replicate these winning approaches, step by step.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179032,"id":1179032,"title":"Winners_collage","filename":"Winners_collage.jpg","filesize":251270,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/winners_collage","alt":"cover pages for the 4 winnings stories","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"First and second place in the professional category (top row) and first and second place in the student category (bottom row).","name":"winners_collage","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 02:56:51","modified":"2021-03-31 02:57:50","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1997,"height":1397,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage.jpg","medium-width":373,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":537,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage.jpg","large-width":1544,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage-1536x1075.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1075,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage.jpg","2048x2048-width":1997,"2048x2048-height":1397,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage-665x465.jpg","card_image-width":665,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Winners_collage-1544x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1544,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/meet-the-2020-storymaps-competition-winners\/"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

1. Creating a visual hierarchy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We know we consume content in millisecond bursts, often skimming quickly over the page looking for \u201chooks\u201d\u2014maybe a provocative photo or a colorful map\u2014that give cues to what we\u2019re looking<\/em> at and whether we want to spend more time here<\/em>. Few of us simply read from the first word to the last in a mechanical and linear way. Rather, we graze for information.<\/p>\n

A clear visual hierarchy<\/strong><\/a> is critical for helping readers do that successfully.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"- The Nielsen Norman Group","author_profession_organization":"","image":false,"text":"Visual hierarchy controls the delivery of the experience. If you have a hard time figuring out where to look on a page, it\u2019s more than likely that its layout is missing a clear visual hierarchy."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Our brains decide what\u2019s \u201cimportant\u201d and \u201cwhere to jump to next\u201d unconsciously, using visual cues like size, weight, color, and position. Crafting visual hierarchy is how we direct the attention of our readers. To do that well we need to know what the most important information is, what makes sense to notice after that, and so on. Sometimes this is as simple as using clear headings and subheadings throughout the story. But as we see below, it goes far beyond that.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179042,"id":1179042,"title":"small_Scrolling_Story","filename":"small_Scrolling_Story.gif","filesize":1730948,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/small_scrolling_story","alt":"animation of scrolling through the story","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"Notice how the striking red accent color directs our attention.","name":"small_scrolling_story","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 03:05:11","modified":"2021-03-31 03:05:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/gif","type":"image","subtype":"gif","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":480,"height":318,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","medium-width":394,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","medium_large-width":480,"medium_large-height":318,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","large-width":480,"large-height":318,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","1536x1536-width":480,"1536x1536-height":318,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","2048x2048-width":480,"2048x2048-height":318,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","card_image-width":480,"card_image-height":318,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/small_Scrolling_Story.gif","wide_image-width":480,"wide_image-height":318}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Hidden Realities, Femicides in Turkey<\/strong><\/a> uses a single stark red accent color throughout the story to draw the eye to information such as the statics below. The color is both evocative and helps flag important content.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179052,"id":1179052,"title":"Screen Shot 2021-03-08 at 5.08.49 PM","filename":"Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","filesize":42118,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/screen-shot-2021-03-08-at-5-08-49-pm","alt":"statistics of concern regarding women's safety","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"","name":"screen-shot-2021-03-08-at-5-08-49-pm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 03:06:38","modified":"2021-03-31 17:07:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":890,"height":373,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":322,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","large-width":890,"large-height":373,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","1536x1536-width":890,"1536x1536-height":373,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","2048x2048-width":890,"2048x2048-height":373,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM-826x346.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":346,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-5.08.49-PM.png","wide_image-width":890,"wide_image-height":373}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179062,"id":1179062,"title":"Screen Shot 2021-03-08 at 4.44.15 PM","filename":"Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","filesize":35178,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/screen-shot-2021-03-08-at-4-44-15-pm","alt":"vertical timeline of important events in women's rights in Turkey","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"The timeline created for that story continues this same approach. Timelines are a great way to turn textual history into data graphics.","name":"screen-shot-2021-03-08-at-4-44-15-pm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 03:07:15","modified":"2021-03-31 17:07:18","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":791,"height":767,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","medium-width":269,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":745,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","large-width":791,"large-height":767,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","1536x1536-width":791,"1536x1536-height":767,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","2048x2048-width":791,"2048x2048-height":767,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM-480x465.png","card_image-width":480,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.44.15-PM.png","wide_image-width":791,"wide_image-height":767}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

2. Setting the right visual tone<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tone is different from visual hierarchy in that it sets the graphic style for the story through the coordinated use of colors, fonts, photos and other graphic design elements. Hierarchy controls what our readers see first, second and so on; tone sets the overall graphic style which conveys the emotion of the story.<\/p>\n

ArcGIS StoryMaps uses themes<\/strong><\/a> to set the overall graphic look and feel of your story. The choices you make in your themes can say as much about the story as the content itself. They can even influence readers\u2019 ideas about whether a story is truthful, sympathetic, inspiring, or any of dozens of other inferences. In other words, themes are much more than just \u201cmaking the story look pretty.\u201d When done correctly, themes work in concert with the content and amplify it.<\/p>\n

Our team has written lots on this topic before\u2014here<\/strong><\/a>, here<\/strong><\/a>, and here<\/strong><\/a>\u2014<\/strong>so let\u2019s jump into the examples.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179092,"id":1179092,"title":"Dene_cover","filename":"Dene_cover.jpg","filesize":307045,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/dene_cover","alt":"an image of northern mountains, lakes, forests","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"","name":"dene_cover","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 03:14:46","modified":"2021-03-31 03:15:21","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1783,"height":1106,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover.jpg","medium-width":421,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":476,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover.jpg","large-width":1741,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover-1536x953.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":953,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1783,"2048x2048-height":1106,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover-750x465.jpg","card_image-width":750,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Dene_cover-1741x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1741,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Dene K\u02bc\u00e9h Kus\u0101n<\/strong><\/a> opens with a strong establishing shot to quickly convey a feeling of northern landscapes and conservation. Learn more about establishing shots and other photo techniques in this wonderful post<\/strong><\/a> by my colleague Hannah Wilber.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179112,"id":1179112,"title":"Screen Shot 2021-03-08 at 4.57.08 PM","filename":"Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","filesize":39044,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/screen-shot-2021-03-08-at-4-57-08-pm","alt":"formula used by the GIS team to do analysis","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"","name":"screen-shot-2021-03-08-at-4-57-08-pm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 03:16:43","modified":"2021-03-31 17:06:31","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":881,"height":301,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":159,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":262,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","large-width":881,"large-height":301,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","1536x1536-width":881,"1536x1536-height":301,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","2048x2048-width":881,"2048x2048-height":301,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM-826x282.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":282,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-08-at-4.57.08-PM.png","wide_image-width":881,"wide_image-height":301}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

iBanker Kendal Regency<\/strong><\/a> opts for a bright, crisp theme and friendly saturated colors, perfect for a story about tropical agriculture. I love the clever use of big, bold graphics to help explain their GIS analysis. Simple graphics like this help broaden the audience of a story.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":1179122,"id":1179122,"title":"Screen Shot 2021-03-10 at 1.22.40 PM","filename":"Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","filesize":63550,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/seven-lessons\/screen-shot-2021-03-10-at-1-22-40-pm","alt":"cover image uses silhouettes of women in boxes","author":"6331","description":"","caption":"","name":"screen-shot-2021-03-10-at-1-22-40-pm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1179002,"date":"2021-03-31 03:17:23","modified":"2021-03-31 17:06:13","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1877,"height":928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":229,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":380,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","large-width":1877,"large-height":928,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM-1536x759.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":759,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","2048x2048-width":1877,"2048x2048-height":928,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM-826x408.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":408,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-10-at-1.22.40-PM.png","wide_image-width":1877,"wide_image-height":928}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

By comparison, Hidden Realities, Femicides in Turkey<\/strong><\/a> brilliantly uses a stark black cover page video of moving silhouettes<\/em> of women (tip: videos can make great cover media). More than that, the silhouettes\u2019 anonymity silently reinforces the title of the story: a hidden reality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Picking the right form for your data<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the wonderful-yet-challenging things about digital storytelling is how open-ended the medium is: You can incorporate videos, text, photos, illustrations, quote blocks, maps of all kinds, charts, dashboards, and on and on. Every story we write on the StoryMaps team prompts questions like \u201cHow should we present these data? What will be the easiest for our readers to understand? What will be the most powerful? How hard will it be to make this?\u201d For example, we could present a set of simple statistics as numbers in the body of the text, or as a chart, or as a map: Which one to use?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Some general advice:<\/p>\n