Innovation in Focus
Innovation in Focus is a series exploring new tech, tools and methods of storytelling for journalism. We interview experts, test ideas and provide our findings with templates, guidance and how-tos so you can implement the same innovations in your newsroom.
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Whether you’re a one-man band or a large metro, this series will help you take the next step in innovative journalism.
Email the editor: lytle@rjionline.org
Building a chatbot trained on your newsroom’s content
What it takes: time, money and ethical considerations.
Explaining complicated ideas, processes with digestible and impactful graphics
A conversation with Kavya Beheraj, Axios.
Tips for starting a hyperlocal podcast
What we learned from debuting a local sports podcast.
Optimize your SEO with service journalism
The concept of “news you can use” is not new to media organizations. However, with the rising importance of search engine optimization, these stories play a key role in not only driving traffic to news websites, but helping news organizations serve their communities.
Using Flourish stories to build a visual data experience
How we crafted a complete package on changing health outcomes in Lake County, California.
Empowering local newsrooms with comprehensive community dashboards
Han Vu is a 2023 RJI Student Innovation Fellow partnered with the American Press Institute in Washington, DC. The RJI Student Fellows will be sharing their innovative work through Innovation in Focus. Data holds great power for newsrooms to better understand their communities, but accessing and understanding it can be daunting. To aid local journalists … Continued
Wok and scroll: the process of designing an animated information graphic
Four tips on expediting your next animated adventure.
Early lessons about using Threads to engage your community
From allotted character count to engagement strategies, takeaways from the Springfield News-Leader.
Testing API’s source tracking tool with local newsrooms
Lessons learned and common challenges with implementing the Source Matters tool.
Making Census data accessible for reporters with varying data literacy
Your guide to variables, visualizations and more.