Tales of the Tornado
The Des Moines Register is doing an amazing job of using maps, stories, photos, videos and blogs to cover the storms that have hammered Iowa. Take for example its "Parkersburg Tornado: The Aftermath" package, which allows viewers to scan a map of the town and click on the property of individual homes and businesses to see videos, photos and brief stories about what happened to the inhabitants. This interactivity allows viewers to quickly learn the fates of their friends, relatives, and neighbors. To further enhance the package, viewers are invited to send the Register their own stories and pictures of the storm. Craig Johnson designed and produced the package with contributions from more than 20 Register staffers as well as Parkersburg residents. A tip of the hat to the Poynter Institute's Al Tompkins for recommending this excellent package. http://data.desmoinesregister.com/parkersburg/parkersburg.php
For more great use of maps by the Register, see its interactive "Iowa Tornado Tracker," which gives information about every tornado in the state since 1976, and its map of flooding in the state. The Register also gives readers access to interesting databases such as the location of the area's million-dollar homes, the water quality of local lakes and the contracts of coaches at state universities. www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=watchdog
Any storm coverage from other newsrooms that you recommend?