ALTERNATIVE STORY FORMS Easy devices to make your news more accessible and grab readers’ attention By Chris Lusk, Orange County Register news designer

What is an ASF? Alternative story forms allow you flexibility You determine the best way to tell the story Bite-size chunks of information An effective way to maximize readers’ time

Why use ASFs? The typical reader gives us fewer than 25 minutes a day You only get a few seconds to hook them, if you’re lucky How do you get their time and attention? You need to be creative, quick and informative. Show them — don’t tell them

ASFs are everywhere Lists, Q&As, timelines, how to, charts, pro/cons, calendars They open the door for creative presentations Allow readers to scan and digest information quickly

How do we know they work? Poynter’s EyeTrack project in 2007 shows us they do ASFs help readers remember facts Even simple ASFs draw more visual attention

BEYOND THE INVERTED PYRAMID

How they are different Inverted pyramid Most important info Next most important Less important Least important Alternative story form Overview, central point Sub-point No. 1 Sub-point No. 2 Sub-point No. 3 Maybe an end

An example You’re publishing a story to preview a series of charity events hosted by student organizations this semester.

The normal approach

A simple ASF

What would you do? Here’s the news: “The campus blood drive is over. We finished fourth out of 11 schools in the competition.”

What we typically do A 15-inch story with quotes from the organizers about how happy they were with the turnout, how pleased they are to be a part of such a great event, and blah blah blah blah. Why? This is just more PR. And will anyone even read it?

What we should do

HOW TO BUILD ASFs INTO YOUR DESIGN

How to do it Brainstorm, sketch, report, edit, execute Who should be involved? Reporter Designer Photographer Edtior

How to do it Reporting Edit ideas Plan Write first Organize Editing Content is king Edit, edit, edit Hierarchy Storyboard Execution Determine the best way to tell the story Consider templates

Templates: Q&A, Overview

Templates: 5 things, Profile

So … always use ASFs? No. Use the right tools for the right story. Narrative: Best for telling compelling stories about people. Photos: Capturing moments and emotion. Q&As, timelines, breakouts: Information at a glance. Explanatory graphics: Giving readers an in-depth look.

Readers want to consume information at different speeds. They want variety. It makes the reading experience so much more enjoyable.

STAY CONNECTED Chris Lusk