Visual Journalism: The World's Cheapest Airfare

As an aspiring young journalist, one of the most attractive elements of this field is that it takes you places.

Unlike a print story, visual journalism allows journalists to take readers places using photos, voices, and graphics, in addition to the “outdated” form of written words.

Although I have a car and am not one of those guys who displays an adamant distaste for the usage of maps, a 24-hour day can only take you to so many places. The journalist’s eye for facts and perspectives combined with multimedia technology makes it easy to “visit” places that one may never venture to in their lifetime.

Take the Georgia Capitol Building. I have never been to Georgia and don’t plan on visiting any time soon. But with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s (AJC) multimedia feature, I can visit the Capitol Building without needing a hotel room or $500 for gas.

http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/content/multimedia/projects/statecapitol/index.html

The AJC’s feature on the structure grants users an interactive timeline of Georgia’s governors and their terms, with photos of each politician and a short blurb describing their background. It also contains an interactive map of the four capital cities prior to Atlanta. This relays a historical perspective, which allows readers to step back in time and understand the changing life conditions around this single structure.

The feature also allows readers to go inside the capital building. A page with each floor comes up, fully equipped with three-dimensional floor plans and corresponding photos of the rooms. With just a click of the mouse, I can capture an inside look of the famous fourth floor House and Senate galleries, where state legislative issues are discussed and voted on in session.

And best of all, with this form of visual journalism, no tolls or security checkpoints required. This story caught my eye because it introduced a place that is far from accessible, and most importantly, it takes you way inside that place – the White House or compound of a celebrity’s mansion first come to mind as sites that would relay similar eye-catching web hits.

But the one feature that the Georgia Capitol piece misses is voice. The AJC currently has another piece on the daily lifestyle of Iranian citizens, using a captivating mix of photos and corresponding commentary. Iran = another place I’m not planning on visiting any time soon.

From a local bazaar bustling with native clothing purchases, to a visit to local teahouses and nightclubs to smoke water pipes, this form of visual journalism gives the reader a sense of Iranian culture. Culture is often best understood by daily activities.

http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/gallery/insideiran/

Spending two weeks in the nation, the reporting AJC photographer shows people living their lives – partaking in prayer, women preparing to dress properly. A normal print story could describe daily life activities of an Iranian, such as the visiting of a dentist, which is shown here. The words “pulling teeth” or “waiting in line” induce an air of familiarity.

But relying on the visual actions of the individual grants readers a reflection of practices extending beyond the select few who are highlighted. This form of visual journalism allows people anywhere in the globe to step into the nation for five minutes, which is more time than most could ever safely attain.