Infographics in News presentation: A Study of its Effective Use in Times of India and Indian Express the Two Leading Newspapers in India

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1 35 Infographics in News presentation: A Study of its Effective Use in Times of India and Indian Express the Two Leading Newspapers in India Rajeev Ghode, Research Scholar, Department of Communication Studies, Pune University, Pune (India) ABSTRACT Infographics is representation of data and information using graphics. Effective use of Infographics attracts the attention of users and explains complex information quickly and clearly. There are ample software applications and tools available to create attractive and informative info graphics. Infographics are widely used in educational content, web site portals, News Channels and Newspapers. Indian Newspapers also use various Infographics primarily to present statistical data using charts, diagrams, graphs, tables, maps, lists etc. Newspapers too, need to implement various strategies and experiments to stand in growing media channels and new media age. All the major newspapers also started e-newspapers editions. The new media users want to consume much more information within very short time and here Infographics play a major role. The same Infographics can be used on both the medium. Because of this, many Indian newspapers recently started wide use of Info graphics to represent not only data but news and information content also. Infographics in real sense is an example of media convergence and widely used in print medium, web sites, television, mobiles and ipods with the same intensity. Times of India and Indian Express are two leading newspapers among top newspapers in India. They have their existence in print and web editions along with television news channels. This study explores various parameters like importance, visual design, instructional approach, space and sections allotted, to use of Infographics with quantitative parameter like numbers of info graphics used in every edition in last six months. Key word: Info-graphics, Newspapers, Media Convergence, New Media Representation of news and information in visual form The use of computerized design software and digitization hardware like scanners, digital cameras have really changed the overall design and quality of newspapers across word. In this fast information age, there is equal importance of presenting and designing of information to the readers. As the technology evolve it have shown same evolution in newspaper design. It shows, the newspaper design and presentation also changes as per the time and technology. Because of ample software and skilled graphics professionals, there is effective use of not only photographs and pictures in newspapers but also significant use of infographics in newspaper design. There is transformation of design revolution in Newspaper desin with the emergence of color in the mid-1970s and the advent of informational graphics (i.e. chart, maps, tables, diagrams which explain worded information visually) in the 1980s (Shepard 1996). Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly (Jenkins, Henry 2006). Blue Ocean Research Journals 35

2 36 Infographics are widely used in print media, hoardings, advertising, education, publications and even in corporate collaterals. In newspapers, infographics are commonly used to show the weather, as well as maps and site plans for newsworthy events, and graphs for statistical data. As the printed newspaper approaches the 21st Century, the increased use of charts, maps and other graphic devices continues to affect both its appearance and means of telling the story. The recent design revolution, which has brought modular design, informational graphics and increased color, has made today's newspaper more attractive, more navigable and easier to comprehend than ever before (Utt and Pasternack 2000). About 90 percent of graphics editors in a 1993 study said that the primary role of graphics was to supplement textual material. At the same time, nearly all said informational graphics made the newspaper easier to understand and more attractive the Poynter Institute, one of the most important center for training journalists in the United States, has conducted a study called "Eyetrack" that analyzes and records the way that readers see and navigate through the pages of newspaper, identifying entry points to the page and which elements attract attention and motivate them to read the text of the information. The results were very favorable for infography, the main findings of the research stated that 77% enter to the page visually because of the infographics, 61% because of the photography and 36% because of the headline. 87% of readers who see an infographic read the text and 41% read the text because of the headline. Infography is the genre that catches a reader on the page longer than others. Scientific studies as the one developed by the University of Lund (Sweden), presented in the new edition of Malofiej, showed that infography is the genre that catches readers on the page more time than the others. Because of its nature and its features, the infographics attract the curiosity of readers, who understand well the visual and extremely fragmented language Visual titles and infographics in the newsroom which have evolved as a result of the convergence of online and print news are Visual Editor, Visual Journalist, and Web Director depending on which skills are used to manage visuals (Zavoina and Reichert 2000). Components of Info graphics With the use of various components in combination, a well defined Infographics can be designed which can be simple to understand and influential to attract readers. Charts, flowcharts, diagrams, maps, mind maps, signs, typographic text are commonly used in designing infographics. Graphics can be defined as translations of numbers in the form of a drawing, design or plan to explain or illustrate something, Paul Lewi (2006). A chart is a graphical representation of data, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting these with arrows. This diagrammatic representation can give a stepby-step solution to a given problem. Histogram is a graphical representation, showing a visual impression of the distribution of data. A graphic (such as a chart or diagram) depicting the relationship between two or more variables used, for instance, in visualizing scientific data. A map is a visual representation of an area Blue Ocean Research Journals 36

3 37 a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes. A diagram is a two-dimensional geometric symbolic representation of information representation of cultural and natural features on the ground. Contour lines are often given specific names beginning "iso" meaning 'equal' according to the nature of the variable being mapped. Isotherm - a type of contour line that connects points of equal temperature at a given date or time on a geographic map. Isobar is a line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure. A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Signage systems are visually oriented information systems, consisting of signs, maps, arrows, color coding systems, pictograms and different typographic elements. Defined Levels of Info graphics Level#1: In this level, the elements used to design are mostly photographs along with statistical data (represented in tables) and or short information designed artistically to summarize the news or article. Figure 1 represents sample level#1 infographics. according to some visualization technique. It is a graphical tool for organizing and representing knowledge. A topographic map is a detailed and accurate graphic Level#2: Element of Level#1 with additional conceptual diagrams, visual representations like charts, maps, typography, symbolic interpretations etc. Figure 2 represents sample level#2 infographics. Level#3: Elements of Level#1 and Level#3 with wider approach of information design, detail conceptual thoughts represented with graphics and textual information and optimized use of visual components with well defined instructions techniques which help readers to understand and visualize the news or information. Figure 3 represents sample level#3 infographics. Blue Ocean Research Journals 37

4 38 Figure 2. Example of level#2 infographics Figure 3. Example of level#3 infographics Blue Ocean Research Journals 38

5 39 With the study of last 6 month s issues from 1 st February 2011 to 31 st July 2011, on how Times of India (TOI) and Indian Express (IE), the two leading newspaper in India are represented infographics for various sections in the newspaper. Table 1 depicts level wise numbers of Infographics used in IE, where as Table 2 shows level wise numbers of Infographics used in TOI. Month Level1 Level2 Level3 Total February March April May June July Total Table 1. Level wise numbers of Infographics used in IE from 1 st Feb to 31 st July 2011 Month Level1 Level2 Level3 Total Feb March April May June July Total Table 2. Level wise numbers of Infographics used in TOI from 1 st Feb to 31 st July 2011 The study also focused on how many infographics are used in covering Headline, News and other sections like Article, Business Section and Sports. Table 3 represents section wise numbers of Infographics used in IE and Table 4 shows section wise numbers of Infographics used in TOI Month Headlines News Articles Business Sports Total February March April May June July Total Table 3. Section wise numbers of Infographics used in IE from 1 st Feb to 31 st July Blue Ocean Research Journals 39

6 40 Month Headlines News Articles Business Sports Total Feb March April May June July Total Table 4. Section wise numbers of Infographics used in TOI from 1 st Feb to 31 st July 2011 After analyzing the data from Table 2, the Figure 4 shows that IE use maximum numbers of infographics to represent Articles. There is stable numbers of usage of infographics for article, every month. There is no significant increase or decrease in the numbers. The least focus has given for Headlines and Sports. There is growth in News infographics from May, but it is not significant IE: Monthwise Distribution of Infographics February March April May June July Headlines News Articles Business Sports Figure 4. Month wise and section wise Distribution of Infographics in IE Figure 5 shows that maximum numbers of infographics are used to present News. Use of Infographics in Headline is also remarkable and steady for all the months. Articles and Sports sections are also well in numbers and are steady. The numbers are decreased for Sport in the month of April, June and July. Blue Ocean Research Journals 40

7 TOI: Monthwise Distribution of Infographics February March April May June July Headlines News Articles Business Sports Figure 5. Month wise and section wise Distribution of Infographics in TOI When compared IE with TOI, there is almost double numbers of Infographics used in TOI in comparison with IE. As shown in Figure 6, there are total 868 Level#1 infographics used in TOI where as 502 infographics are used in IE. There are 70 Level#2 infographics are used in TOI and 55 in IE. There are total 13 level#3 infographics used in TOI where as only 6 infographics are used in IE. Level wise comparison between IE and TOI IE TOI Level # 1 Level # 2 Level # 3 Figure 6. Level wise comparison between IE and TOI When section wise compared between IE and TOI as shown in Figure 7, there are 29 infographics are used in IE, whereas 130 infographics are used in TOI to present headlines which is almost four times high as compared to IE. Similarly 110 infographics are used in IE, whereas 302 infographics are used in TOI to present news content, which is almost three times high as compared to IE. he use of infographics in Article Blue Ocean Research Journals 41

8 42 section is higher in IE which is 240, as compared to TOI which is 191. Infographics used in Business and Sports sections are also significantly high in TOI, when compared with IE. Section wise comparison between two IE and TOI IE TOI Headlines News Articles Business Sports Conclusion Times of India are using significantly higher numbers of infographics of all three levels than Indian Express. Use of Infographics in Headlines are almost 4 times higher in TOI as with IE. Infographics used in TOI is almost thrice compared to IE. Article section is well explained in IE as compared to TOI. Leve#2 infographics are also equally well represented in IE and TOI. Level#3 infographics in TOI is also double in numbers when compared with IE. Overall, TOI has effectively used all levels of infographics over IE. The quality of infographics is also appreciable in TOI in comparison with IE. References [1] Shepard, A. (1996, December). Designer papers. (Cover story). American Journalism Review Figure 7. Section wise comparison between IE and TOI [2] Jenkins, Henry (2006) Convergence Culture, New York University Press, New York. [3] Utt, S., & Pasternack, S. (2000, Spring). Update on infographics in American newspapers. [4] Zavoina, S., & Reichert, T. (2000). Media Convergence/Management Change: The [5] Evolving Workflow for Visual Journalists. Journal of Media Economics [6] Paul Lewi (2006). "Speaking of Graphics". [7] Centre for Topographic Information, Topo Maps: Frequently Asked Questions [8] Online communities' impact on the profession of newspaper design By Amanda Miller, West Virginia University Google Book - y_fjkc&pg=pa13&lpg=pa13&dqhttp://ww w.borjournals.comutt+and+pasternack+200 0%29&source=bl&ots=_LdP1LpCc2&sig= wlrank- WzzG0xTkK2Gn030_gGvw&hl=en&ei=zNsTsLfB4nUrQe8nOSyAw&sa=X&oi=bo ok_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0cc8 Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%28Utt%20and %20Pasternack%202000%29&f=false Blue Ocean Research Journals 42

9 43 [9] phics [10] epaper.timesofindia.com [11] epaper.indianexpress.com Blue Ocean Research Journals 43