ABSTRACT

Powerful storytelling engages the senses, and today, there are more accessible digital tools available for telling multimedia stories than ever before. The Digital Reporter’s Notebook teaches practical digital storytelling techniques that journalists can put into practice right away, using the technology they already have in their pockets. Mark Blaine demonstrates how to gather information and organize it into a successful multimedia story without losing sight of the essentials of good journalism.

These forty brief chapters provide a versatile toolkit for multimedia journalists, including activities and exercises to build a strong foundation in digital storytelling. Readers will also want to try the interactive app, which includes videos and animations that bring the concepts and ideas in the book to life.

Topics include:

  • Lighting & Framing
  • Collecting Sound
  • Scene Setting & Relevant Detail
  • Interview Techniques
  • Story Structure
  • File Management

The Digital Reporter’s Notebook is ideal for online journalism courses and introductory reporting courses using a convergence approach.

chapter 1|3 pages

The Digital Notebook

chapter 2|3 pages

Why Do I Care?

chapter 3|2 pages

Thinking Multi-platform

chapter 4|3 pages

Letting the Story Unfold

chapter 5|3 pages

Small Story, Big Story

chapter 6|3 pages

Text Triage

Have Information

chapter 7|2 pages

Text Triage

Connect Information

chapter 8|2 pages

Text Triage

Speak the Language

chapter 9|2 pages

Conventions

chapter 10|4 pages

Where You Stand

Framing

chapter 11|4 pages

Where You Stand

Lighting

chapter 12|4 pages

Where You Stand

Wide–medium–close

chapter 13|3 pages

Collecting Details

Seeing B-Roll and the Stuff of Stories

chapter 14|3 pages

Collecting Details

Listening for Natural Sound

chapter 15|3 pages

Talking to Real People

chapter 16|3 pages

Talking to the Right People

chapter 17|2 pages

Asking for an Interview

chapter 18|2 pages

Talking to Multiple People

chapter 19|3 pages

Preparing Questions

chapter 20|3 pages

Taking Notes and Recording

chapter 21|3 pages

Rhythm

chapter 22|3 pages

Shut Up

chapter 23|3 pages

Body Language

chapter 24|2 pages

Location

chapter 25|3 pages

Quotes

chapter 26|2 pages

Anecdotes

chapter 27|4 pages

Relevant Detail

chapter 28|4 pages

Physical Description

chapter 29|3 pages

Place Description

chapter 30|2 pages

Setting a Scene

chapter 31|3 pages

Action and Sequence

chapter 32|2 pages

Say it in a Sentence

chapter 33|2 pages

Complex Information

chapter 34|3 pages

Numbers and Data

chapter 35|3 pages

Structure

chapter 36|2 pages

Storyboard

chapter 37|2 pages

File Management

Naming

chapter 38|2 pages

File Management

Folders

chapter 39|2 pages

File Management

Version Control

chapter 40|1 pages

One Last Bit …