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In an ever evolving media landscape, it can be challenging to figure out how to present multimedia in a graceful way. And while there can be a lot of lamenting over new media eclipsing more traditional forms of journalism, it can also be used to enhance the time-honored forms of storytelling. This was certainly the case for the New York Times journalist Amy Harmon’s recent piece “Autistic and Seeking a Place in an Adult World.” Harmon, a Pulitzer Prize winner, followed a young man with autism named Justin Canha for a year. She wrote an engaging narrative, delving into the complexities and challenges that Canha, a budding animator/illustrator, faced as he made his way into adulthood.

The Times added another dimension to Harmon’s already captivating account with multimedia “quick links.” These links not only showed Canha’s quirks through video and his talent for drawing, but provided an important facet to understanding his character and experience. It is the perfect example of how multimedia can be used to complement a more traditional piece, the powers of print, photo and video woven into one experience. I spoke to Harmon about the piece, which drew attention from journalists and Silicon Valley types alike. Read more

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For multi-platform journalists, presentation is often just as important as information when it comes to telling your stories. Some journalists go for a simple approach, such a social media profile which chronicles their adventures in the field with links to interesting topics of discussion. Others are more bold, as is the case with BOLD Edition.

The website’s credo (and corresponding video trailer) illustrate their concept beautifully.

/bōld/, not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring; not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative; striking or conspicuous to the eye; flashy; showy.

“BOLD Edition exists based on the premise that every story exhibits figurative or literal elements that embody The Bold,” says Clarence Smith Jr., editor-in-chief. BOLD Edition stories are comprised of thoughtful storytelling, compelling original photography, and beautifully shot video trailers.

BOLD Edition’s first story — “The Sting” — chronicles a cyclist’s journey on retrieving his rare bicycle that was stolen by a local criminal. Through the use of video and photography, BOLD Edition transforms this into a gripping tale of redemption and justice. BOLD Edition is an amazing example of how multi-platform journalism can really give a more well-rounded yet nuanced perspective into everyday stories.

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Find out more about BOLD Edition at http://www.boldedition.com, or you can follow BOLD Edition on Facebook and Twitter.

With 26% of American adults getting some form of news via their mobile phones, news organizations must adapt their content to reach their audience right on their handsets. Tackable is one of the latest offerings to the mobile photojournalism platform, and it combines hyperlocal news, user-generated content, and social gaming mechanics into a sleek suite of iOS apps called TapIn Bay Area.

Tackable is a live photojournalism platform with a very interesting workflow for delivering news. Reporters and editors create photo assignments for users, and users complete those assignments using their mobile devices. Users can also send in their own photos to help reporters create articles faster based on what’s happening in a particular area.

Think of Tackable as a social network that maps user-generated local news. So far, the service has been a hit in the San Francisco Bay Area where Tackable is based. The service is trusted by over two dozen newspapers owned by MediaNews Group in the Bay Area, including the San Jose Mercury News, the Contra Costa Times, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and the San Mateo County Times.

The gaming mechanics behind Tackable’s application, TapIn Bay Area, are the real draw for the application. Uploading photos and completing assignments earns you points, which can in turn be used for discount vouchers and other deals. The Spartan Daily application, one of Tackable’s test implemetations, turns users into roving reporters and makes the discovery of news into a real-world scavenger hunt. Users are rewarded for participation, and editors and reporters gather news from several active sources. By partnering with newspapers, Tackable can utilize the papers’ audiences as a stable audience base for the app.

Tackable’s Bay Area-centered application, TapIn Bay Area is currently available for both iPhone and iPad.

When reporters are in the field with their smartphones and they have a story to tell where both photo and location are vital, a stream of Flickr photos imported into a Google Map will do the trick.

In light of Los Angeles’ recent Carmageddon, above is a geotagged Flickr map of the empty 405 highway.

For example, if you have a reporter covering a huge parade, a bike tour, travelling along the coastline, taking a wine tour across the country, or you want to collect reader photos from a highway closure — really, the use cases are endless — an easy way to get interactive, live content from the field is through a Flickr map. And, you can accomplish it all from email, with no extra apps or training required. Read more

When you’re an independent journalist, it can be difficult to raise funding for purchasing equipment, covering travel, and pursuing your stories. Crowdfunding is a popular method of fund raising, and services like Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and ChipIn can make the process easy. There’s now a new crowdfunding platform on the Internet — Emphas.is — and it’s specifically for photojournalists.

The project acceptance process on Emphas.is is very similar to other crowdfunding services. Photojournalists must draft a compelling proposal including a detailed budget, and a team of advisors reviews the proposal for acceptance onto the site. Contributions start at $10, and like Kickstarter, projects must be fully funded by the proposal’s deadline in order to receive funding.

Emphas.is has an interesting model that builds on the traditional notion of crowdfunding. If you fund up to 50% of any given project, you can acquire first publication rights. The site has already funded six projects, raising just over $75,000. Emphas.is has forged partnerships with Reporters without Borders and World Escapade Travel Insurance, and the British Journal of Photography (among others).

The site is still fairly new, and there are several interesting photojournalism projects available for funding. The specific niche that Emphas.is serves can help projects stand out from other crowdfunding platforms, especially with the possibility of acquiring first publication rights. Take a look at the projects over at Emphas.is and help fund the next great photojournalism project!