Steve Buttry

Visual storytelling was the focus of Steve Buttry‘s talk. He shared with us his blog, The Buttry Diary.

Steve Buttry

He said he’d use some examples from his blog post  from the previous time he talked to Klein’s class. He said he’d also use some new examples.

He started with examples using maps as a gateway for storytelling. He used StarTribune.com’s 13 Seconds in August which was about the 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River. Then he showed Des Moines Register’s Parkersburg tornado map. Both of these stories used maps in order to present the stories, videos and pictures. Lastly, he showed us The Times-Picayune’s Last Chance, which was about Louisiana’s disappearing coastline.

Buttry showed us how satellite photographs were used in The New York Times’ Satellite Photos of Japan, Before and After the Quake and Tsunami to show all of the destruction.

He also showed us President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address by David Bergman which Gigapan images of the Inaugural address. People can zoom in and see themselves in the picture. The Glastotag idea at The Glastonbury Festival 2010.

He mentioned Storify and using it in a hard news story. Like when TBD’s Dave Jamieson’s “Snow wreaks havoc on D.C., Virginia, Maryland roads” story.

Twitter has helped Buttry “become a better writer” and even helped his ego due to all of the user interaction.

With all the technologies out there, most of us are feeling a little nervous when trying to implement them. This was obvious by  most of the questions that were asked. Buttry said it’s good to feel that way and a sign that you should jump on it.

He says to always be curious despite any barriers. Whether they’d be language or fear,

“Ask a question, however difficult it may be,” said Buttry.