Idea Lab

How Maps Shape Information and News

by Leslie Rule
2007 Knight News Challenge Winner

This video was one of the amazing public mapping projects featured at this year's Center for Social Media's Beyond Broadcast 2008. Public Radio International President and CEO Aliza Miller created this video. She begins with the what's known in digital storytelling as the "dramatic" question: How does the news shape the way we see the world. How can maps shape the way we see the world? When I look at the mapping being done these days, I love hyperlocal, community mapping. But as has been debated here, some community mapping projects are devoid of adequate context, and therefore it's difficult...

• August 9, 2008
• 1 comment

Whither Hyperlocal Mapping

by Leslie Rule
2007 Knight News Challenge Winner

Three and a half conferences (12 hours onsite training at Google counts as the half) in three weeks has about done me in. At various times, I inevitably ask myself, "Why am I here and not at home?" But I realize why I travel to these events when the light bulb goes off. Usually it's about connecting the dots in a way that with 20-20 hindsight seems like stating the obvious. I posted a blog in early May on the Where 2.0 conference, focusing on mapping and social activism; I noted that having a purpose (outside of making money and/or...

• July 6, 2008
• 4 comments