Tuesday, January 6. 2009

Suggestions to Online News Map Producers

Dear Charlotte Observer,

Today I found, via a search, your map of the homicides in Charlotte in 2008. I applaud the use of interactive map in news coverage.

I was a bit "lost" when contemplating this map because there was:

- no article to which it was linked
- no legend
- no link for information on the map itself (who made it, why, source information, etc.)

With some effort, I did find the article in the Sunday edition that linked to the map. It was sadly about the first homicide of 2009. The article did reference the map, but alas didn't provide any further information.

I did find, quite by accident that clicking the "view larger map" took me to the MyMaps source of this smaller map. There I found a descriptive legend (what the blue and yellow teardrops meant and what pushpins meant) and more about the source information.

My suggestions:

- If a map is on a stand-alone page, consider adding a "stories that link to this map" list. Remember many readers will come to this map from outside the paper thus have "no context."
- Perhaps rename the "view larger map" link to state that more information is available there, too. That link might made more prominent, too.
- Include a legend if at all possible with the embedded map.

Thanks for your time.

Adena

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