The Role of Explanatory Motion News Graphics in Online Journalism

Master’s degree thesis by Belinda Ivey

KarBel Multimedia’s Belinda Ivey has completed and submitted her thesis on “The Role of Explanatory Motion News Graphics in Online Journalism.” She is now in the home stretch of completing her degree of Master in Fine Arts in Motion Media Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and is expected to graduate in June 2017. The thesis is based on a theory Belinda has cultivated for more than 5 years, starting when she first applied motion graphics in her work as as a graphics reporter at the South Florida Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale.

“The next step in the evolution of news infographics is in animation,” she says. “Motion news graphics are a way to push a visual story narrative further. You can do anything — from showing how a new highway ramp will work to visualizing the number of gun deaths in America in each day of 2015. Motion graphics are popular with readers, and not only can be educational and informative, but entertaining as well.”

The thesis explores how motion news graphics, a relatively new story-telling video format for news organizations, can boost readership in today’s fast-paced online news climate. Motion news graphics can certainly establish a need for today’s graphic news artist, and they can also help struggling, short-staffed newsrooms drive up coveted social media and web traffic yet still meet a growing demand for video content. 

The thesis shows how motion news graphics can engage and inform audiences with a variety of stories from simple animations to complex, relevant news stories told through animated maps, charts, and illustrations — much like their predecessor: the print infographic.

Visual Thesis Project

Election 2016: How the U.S. Presidential Election was Won. Motion graphic created by Belinda Ivey to highlight the results of the 2016 Presidential Election. Purpose was to highlight that a motion news graphic with breaking news elements could be produced in advance. Project took approximately 4-5 weeks, and included 3 days time to update with live numbers with election results. Graphic incorporates 2D, 2.5 D and 3D animations, and was produced in After Effects and Cinema 4D.

So why is this relevant?

Online news organizations should continue to offer a great variety of video content, and that should include motion news graphics. As the popularity of online videos continues to grow, news organizations can offer motion news graphics in the mix. Only time will tell if more news organizations will embrace this trend.

Thank you

To my family, friends, professors, committee members and the visual journalists who supported me through this process, I will always be grateful.

Full Thesis

You can read the full thesis at the Savannah College of Art and Design Digital Collections – Graduate Thesis collection.

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