{"id":2967323,"date":"2026-09-08T06:00:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T13:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2967323"},"modified":"2026-09-08T09:42:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:42:43","slug":"2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition","title":{"rendered":"Submit your geospatial story to the 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition"},"author":9422,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[37101,37511],"tags":[],"industry":[],"product":[36611,380802],"class_list":["post-2967323","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-announcements","category-sharing-collaboration","product-story-maps","product-arcgis-storymaps"],"acf":{"short_description":"Get details about Esri's 2026 geospatial storytelling competition and a new chat series created to help you build a winning story.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>The wait is over. The 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition is now open.<\/p>\n<p>Join storytellers from around the world to reveal hidden patterns, challenge assumptions, plan for the future, or help make sense of complexity. This is your opportunity to showcase your work \u2014 and demonstrate how GIS can drive meaningful action.<\/p>\n<p>Keep reading to learn more about this year&#8217;s theme.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2981705,"id":2981705,"title":"Open-animated-social-26","filename":"Open-animated-social-26.gif","filesize":16127358,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition\/open-animated-social-26","alt":"","author":"345372","description":"","caption":"","name":"open-animated-social-26","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967323,"date":"2026-09-08 15:54:03","modified":"2026-09-08 15:54:03","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":1080,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26-213x200.gif","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","medium-width":261,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","large-width":1080,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","1536x1536-width":1080,"1536x1536-height":1080,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","2048x2048-width":1080,"2048x2048-height":1080,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26-465x465.gif","card_image-width":465,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Open-animated-social-26.gif","wide_image-width":1080,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">Maps are for the bold.<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>Bold is the urban planner who refuses to believe \u201cthat\u2019s just the way cities are.\u201d It\u2019s the disaster response team that refuses to leave anyone behind. It\u2019s the leader who acts with clarity \u2014 and insight \u2014 instead of impulse.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Bold makes the world better.<\/strong><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Jack Dangermond","author_profession_organization":"Esri","image":{"ID":2015862,"id":2015862,"title":"gisday2023-jack-dangermond","filename":"gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","filesize":195233,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis\/announcements\/gis-day-registration-opens-at-the-2023-esri-user-conference\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond","alt":"A photo of Jack Dangermond of Esri","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"gisday2023-jack-dangermond","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2014602,"date":"2023-07-05 10:49:40","modified":"2026-07-10 12:42:19","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":1000,"height":666,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","medium-width":392,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":511,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":666,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":666,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":666,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond-698x465.jpg","card_image-width":698,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gisday2023-jack-dangermond.jpg","wide_image-width":1000,"wide_image-height":666}},"text":"Better\u202fis what we all want. For ourselves, for our organizations, for our communities."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3><strong>How do you use maps and geospatial tools to pursue the better in your community \u2014 and beyond?<\/strong><\/h3>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2973705,"id":2973705,"title":"2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg","filename":"2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","filesize":1936278,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg","alt":"Vivid royal blue water waves lap against a heavily forested coast","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967323,"date":"2026-06-26 18:29:04","modified":"2026-09-08 16:15:24","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":1152,"height":1100,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","medium-width":273,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":733,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","large-width":1131,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1152,"1536x1536-height":1100,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1152,"2048x2048-height":1100,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg-487x465.jpg","card_image-width":487,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-storymaps-competition-storyteller-bg-1131x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1131,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"left","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>Esri invites you and storytellers worldwide to submit a geospatial story through one of four categories \u2014 in a professional or student track.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Seeing What Others Missed:\u00a0<\/strong>Where mapping revealed an unexpected pattern or insight<\/p>\n<p><strong>Refusing the Status Quo:<\/strong>\u00a0Where maps helped challenge \u201cthe way it\u2019s always been done\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Designing a Better Future:<\/strong>\u00a0Using geography to anticipate, test, or prepare for what\u2019s next<\/p>\n<p><strong>Acting with Clarity in Complexity:<\/strong>\u00a0Where maps helped leaders make deliberate, informed decisions under uncertainty<\/p>\n<p>The 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition closes on December 11, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Find more competition details including eligibility, recognition, and timeline in our <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f6b6a70bd9144fb19f754b58f29f10a5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">competition story<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Find creative inspiration and learning resources for creating compelling geospatial stories at our <a href=\"https:\/\/arcgis-storymaps-competition-story.hub.arcgis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">competition hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2973632,"id":2973632,"title":"Separator-blog-2026","filename":"Separator-blog-2026.png","filesize":131782,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition\/separator-blog-2026","alt":"","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-blog-2026","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967323,"date":"2026-06-26 17:08:11","modified":"2026-06-26 17:08:11","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":1920,"height":240,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":58,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":96,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":240,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026-1536x192.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":192,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":240,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026-826x103.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":103,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":240}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>And this year, there\u2019s a new way to hone your storytelling skills for the competition.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Build a story with us \u2014 step by step.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The ArcGIS Storytelling team is hosting a 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Live chat series \u2014 <em><strong>Build a story with us <\/strong><\/em>\u2014 in which we create a new food access story from start to finish in four consecutive chats.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2973649,"id":2973649,"title":"26_Ep-1-community-page-feature","filename":"26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","filesize":2755955,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition\/26_ep-1-community-page-feature","alt":"A smiling person holds a laptop against a black and geospatial background with the words \"ArcGIS StoryMaps Live\"","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"26_ep-1-community-page-feature","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967323,"date":"2026-06-26 17:25:25","modified":"2026-07-10 12:44:40","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":1920,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature-1536x864.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1080,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature-826x465.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Ep-1-community-page-feature.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>From August through November, each of the four one-hour chats will cover one phase of the geospatial storytelling process.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>August 12:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/constituent-engagement\/arcgis-storymaps-live-2026-finding-the-story-in-your-information\">Finding the story in your information<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>September 9:<\/strong> Adding Living Atlas content for geospatial storytelling<\/li>\n<li><strong>October 14:<\/strong> Assembling and theming the pieces of your story<\/li>\n<li><strong>November 10:<\/strong> Putting the finishing touches on your story<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The team \u2014 and guest subject matter experts \u2014 will share techniques, best practices, and takeaway resources to help you create a winning story.<\/p>\n<p>And no, these live chats aren\u2019t just for competition entrants! It\u2019s a chance for any storyteller or GIS professional to learn more and build valuable communication skills.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/storyscape-esriwhere.hub.arcgis.com\/pages\/community\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Register for the 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Live chats.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2973632,"id":2973632,"title":"Separator-blog-2026","filename":"Separator-blog-2026.png","filesize":131782,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition\/separator-blog-2026","alt":"","author":"9422","description":"","caption":"","name":"separator-blog-2026","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967323,"date":"2026-06-26 17:08:11","modified":"2026-06-26 17:08:11","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":1920,"height":240,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":58,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":96,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":240,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026-1536x192.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":192,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":240,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026-826x103.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":103,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Separator-blog-2026.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":240}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Are you a Storyteller of the Year?<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/contest\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202f2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition website<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fto get started.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We can\u2019t wait to see what you create.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2973787,"id":2973787,"title":"26_Announcing-Social-1280x720","filename":"26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","filesize":1199972,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/sharing-collaboration\/2026-arcgis-storymaps-competition\/26_announcing-linkedin-1280x720","alt":"A five-image collage of maps, wildlife, and a person against a geometric background with the words, \"Announcing the 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition. The competition opens September 8,2026\"","author":"397314","description":"","caption":"The 2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition opens September 8, 2026.","name":"26_announcing-linkedin-1280x720","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967323,"date":"2026-06-26 22:32:51","modified":"2026-07-10 12:46:34","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":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","large-width":1280,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1-826x465.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26_Announcing-LinkedIn-1280x720-1.png","wide_image-width":1280,"wide_image-height":720}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""}],"authors":[{"ID":9422,"user_firstname":"Michelle","user_lastname":"Thomas","nickname":"Michelle Thomas","user_nicename":"mthomas","display_name":"Michelle Thomas","user_email":"mthomas@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/overview","user_registered":"2019-04-05 16:54:26","user_description":"Michelle Thomas is a senior content strategist and customer engagement lead on Esri's ArcGIS Storytelling team. She manages the annual ArcGIS StoryMaps competition, digital platforms, and storytelling campaigns that feature storytellers globally.\r\n\r\nPrior to joining Esri, Michelle created digital campaigns at the U.S. Interior Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She leveraged Esri's storytelling tools at both agencies, connecting people, resources, and places through stories. She joined Esri's ArcGIS Storytelling team to share those experiences widely and empower storytellers to make a difference with maps and GIS.","user_avatar":"<img data-del=\"avatar\" src='https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mthomaspic.jpg' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96 photo ' height='96' width='96'\/>"},{"ID":345372,"user_firstname":"Andria","user_lastname":"Olson","nickname":"Andria Olson","user_nicename":"aolson","display_name":"Andria Olson","user_email":"aolson@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2023-09-05 16:47:59","user_description":"Andria Olson is a senior content specialist on Esri's ArcGIS Storytelling team.","user_avatar":"<img data-del=\"avatar\" src='https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Andria-465x465.png' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96 photo ' height='96' width='96'\/>"},{"ID":397314,"user_firstname":"Gustavo","user_lastname":"Cardenas","nickname":"Gustavo 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