Exploring Alternative Story Forms A presentation by Andy Bechtel assistant professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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ExploringAlternative Story FormsA presentation
by Andy Bechtelassistant professor, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Overview

• What are alternative story forms?
• Why try them?
• Types and examples
• Opportunities and challenges

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What are alternative story forms?

• Defining these stories
• Are alternative story forms new?
• Another option for storytelling
• Inspirations
• Book of Lists
• World Almanac
• Attracting reader interest

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Types of alternative story forms

• Supplemental
• Standalone
• Hybrids

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Example of an ASF
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When to use them

• Recurring events, annual awards, etc.
• Teachable moments
• Complicated issues
• Definitions of terms
• Updates and assessments

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Advantages

• Provide quick facts and deep context.
• Can be bite size.
• Offer variety.
• Maintain core principles of accuracy, depth,
  checking value, etc.
• Surprise your reader with a new approach.

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Supplemental forms

• Highlights The Latest
• Timelines past and future (Whats Next)
• Bio/resume useful for profiles
• The story so far and why they fight
  explainers for history, politics, etc.
• Definers explaining our terms
• Calls to action inviting reader interaction

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Examples of supplementals

• Iraq The Latest
• Timeline Tale of White Deer
• Story So Far Vietnam War
• Definer What is NATO? The EU?

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The Latest
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Timeline
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The story so far
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Definer (and Whats Next)
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Standalone forms

• Quiz/QA
• By the numbers
• Checklists and updates
• Previews and recaps
• Breakdown

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Examples of standalones

• Machine politics
• Kentucky Derby
• Commencement
• Spongeworthy
• Iraq updates

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Machine politics
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Preview Kentucky Derby
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Recap Commencement
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Spongeworthy
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Iraq update
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How to write and editstandalone forms

• From the get-go or after the fact
• Typical ingredients
• Intro graf
• Who, what, when
• Logical flow
• Call to action
• Schedules/whats next
• Online refer or refer to more inside the paper

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Examples Before and after

• Super Bowl ads
• Census
• Nobel

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Conclusion

• Recognizing concerns and limitations
• Encouraging newsroom teamwork
• Serving readers

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Questions and comments