Geo-data animations in television journalism: Animation classes and their effectiveness in telling stories

Abstract

The production of digital stored data is increasing fast. A great deal of these data has a spatial reference. Instead of a need for more information there is a need for methods that help us making sense of it. Storytelling seems to be a method to effectively communicate information to the public. In this study I investigated the type of stories that can be told with geo-data by television animations. In total I analysed 21 animations that were created for the Dutch television series ‘The Netherlands from Above’. Next I analysed what narrative and visual storytelling techniques are used to support the story. To test the effectiveness of narrative geo-data animations I performed an online user study.