As newspapers and magazines shrink and the resources of television and radio stations dwindle, food journalism is often the first section to get the boot. The web, however, presents a unique opportunity to explore food, recipes, and cooking in new and captivating ways.

For example, this past Thanksgiving, The New York Times served up one of its signature interactive projects that visualized what people are eating. The map illustrates what classic holiday dishes are most popular in various sections of the U.S. The Times Online tracked what Britain eats in an interactive infographic that measures the popularity of certain foods over time.




To track the location of local farmers markets, The Washington Post created an interactive online map that readers can use to track local food and produce. If you prefer your vegetables on a burger or burrito, you can also use fastfoodmap.com — an interactive map of the locations of McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and more — to satisfy your food cravings.




CHOW.com, a site for recipes and other food-related resources, also has a mix of food-related video that teach users to make food and other stuff. In just a few minutes, you can learn to how to fold a wonton, how to prevent an avocado from browning, and how to clean a cast iron pan.



Food journalism and especially recipe guides are ripe for slideshows. BBC News paired photos and audio to explore the wild, yet edible foods found in the British countryside. The Times-Picayune whipped up "12 Dishes Under $12" a video guide to great dishes from local restaurants. DNAinfo.com, the newly launched hyperlocal site covering the NYC borough of Manhattan, recently presented an interactive slideshow of dishes available during the city's restaurant week.




Food journalism, as with all news subjects, can be invigorated with a little bit of multimedia and a lot of creativity, which in the end makes the topic more interesting for readers and viewers.


Also on 10,000 Words

• 5 Creative uses of Flash and interactive storytelling
• Exploring the human body with Flash and video
• 10 Inspirational New York Times multimedia and interactive features

Labels: audio, flash, maps, video

Audio isn't just for podcasts and slideshows. The following sites are using audio in new and creative ways to make create unique interactive experiences.

BBC: Save Our Sounds

The BBC map is indicative of the latest trend in audio: collecting user-generated audio and displaying it on a map. For this ambitious project, visitors are invited to upload sounds from all over the world, which anyone can listen to by navigating around the interactive map. This means you can hear the purr of a cheetah in South Africa or listen to a wrestling match in Mongolia without ever leaving your couch.

Tracks on a Map

Tracks on a Map takes the user-generated audio concept in a different direction and lets users from all over the world upload music to the site, which allows the viewer to hear great music and how it differs from country to country.

Vocalo.org Local Music Map

The aforementioned maps are powered by complex databases, but the Local Music Map shows that audio and maps don't have to be grand productions to be good. The map mashup catalogs the music scene of the Lake Michigan area and provides photos and links to some of the area's local artists, venues and other music-related landmarks.

Soundtrack

This series of maps takes audio to a new and innovative level by taking the viewer or an audio tour of various locales. As the audio plays, the adjacent dynamic map moves to indicate where the audio was recorded. The technology is a combination of Google Maps, Quicktime and Javascript and is reminiscent of Vidmap which combines maps and video in the same way.

Cold War Kids: I've Seen Enough

Indie rock band Cold War Kids used the web to create an interactive music video where fans can toggle on and off each member of the band as they play the song "I've Seen Enough." The effect is sort of like a mixing board where the viewer can listen to one or all of the band members play at the same time.

Interactive Band

The Flash-animated band is a lot like the Cold War Kids experience, only with more instruments and a groovy samba beat. Users can again toggle between the different band members and, if neither French or Spanish is your first language, learn a few bits of the languages as well.

Buckle Drum Set

This virtual drum set is proof that interactive audio experiences don't have to be all fun and games. If you want to learn the basics of how to play the drums but aren't yet willing to drop the cash on a whole set, you can use this Flash-based interactive to learn the various parts and sounds of a drum set.

dothedaft.com

If electronic music is more your thing, The Daft Punk Console allows users to recreate and remix the Daft Punk hits "Technologic" and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (famously sampled by Kanye West) using an interactive interface.

in Bb 2.0

This online collection of YouTube videos combines both user-generated content, an interactive audio experience and just plain fun into one cool project. A variety of musicians recorded themselves playing individual instruments and uploaded the video to YouTube to create one big collaborative song. You can play any combination of the embedded videos to create a unique harmony that sounds pretty great no matter which video you choose.

Economía musical

This last project is proof that news infographics don't have to be boring. This series of charts from lainformacion.com takes what would otherwise be another sad bar chart about the failing economy and turns it into a fun interactive, musical experience.




Also on 10,000 Words

• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• 9 Tips for recording audio for the web
• 5 Creative uses of Flash and interactive storytelling
• A is for Audio: The ABCs of Multimedia

Labels: audio, flash, maps

Why spend money on expensive multimedia tools when you can use comparable alternatives for free? They may not be an exact replacement, but how can you argue with the price?

PHOTO EDITING: Photoshop
Free: Splashup

Photoshop may be the industry leader when it comes to photo editing and graphic design, but Splashup, a free online tool, has many of the same capabilities at a much cheaper price. Splashup has lots of the tools you'd expect to find in Photoshop and has a similar layout, which is a bonus for those looking to get started right away. Splashup isn't the only free online photo editing program, check out this list of 20 more.

WEB DESIGN: Dreamweaver
Free: KompoZer

Looking to create your next web site without paying big money for programs like Dreamweaver? KompoZer, a free web design program available for immediate download, is great for both novice web designers and professional webheads who need more advanced editing features.

VIDEO: Final Cut, Adobe Premiere
Free: iMovie, JayCut

Many video editors, both novice and professional, use iMovie to create professional-looking videos and an amateur price. The program is included on modern Macs as part of the iLife package and has the basic features editors need as well as few advanced extras such as detachable audio and image stabilization. JayCut is an online video editor that lets registered users upload and edit their video for free. You can even add photos, audio and effects to your project. The final edited video can be shared on the web or downloaded directly to a computer.

AUDIO: ProTools, Adobe Audition
Free: Audacity, GarageBand

Audacity is a comprehensive audio editor with many of the capabilities of its costly competitors. The program, which is available for a free download lets users record and edit everything from simple audio tracks to complex professional work. GarageBand, which is included on modern Macs along with iMovie and iPhoto, takes a simple approach to audio editing and has the added capability of creating enhanced podcasts with photos, chapter markers and more. Find even more free audio editing programs here.

SLIDESHOWS: Soundslides
Free: PhotoPeach

Until recently there was no other slideshow tool that could compete upload Soundslides' flexibility and easy-to-use interface...until now. PhotoPeach lets users upload and order photos using a drag and drop interface, upload an MP3 audio file from a computer, add captions for individual photos and embed the final slideshow anywhere on the net. All this is familiar to anyone who has ever used Soundslides, but PhotoPeach offers all this and more for free, making it a strong substitute for Soundslides.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA: Flash
Free: Effect Generator

Effect Generator, a free online tool, lets anyone create common Flash elements such as slideshows, graphics, and embedded videos. Once you've created your effect the generator emails a link where you can access the Flash file you created. The layout differs from Flash and takes some getting used to but is a great alternative, especially for those just starting to learn Flash.

WORD PROCESSING: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Free: Google Docs

Many of the programs and tools on this list are substitutions for existing program. With Google Docs, you'll never want to touch Microsoft Office again. The free online tool lets anyone with a Google account create documents, spreadsheets and presentations as well as share the document for collaborative editing or viewing. Google Docs is accessible from any computer with an internet connection or you can work offline or download your finished work directly to your computer. You can even upload your existing documents into Google Docs.




Also on 10,000 Words:

• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training

Labels: audio, flash, photos, video

There was a time when a podcast was just a series of audio files that listeners can subscribe to. Years after the the technology was introduced we now have enhanced podcasts as well as newer, enhanced ways of recording and distributing them. The following tools provide unique ways to record, create and publish podcasts:

Huffduffer

The audio files created by individual podcasters are usually created and stored in one place, either in a computer or online folder. Huffduffer lets users create the podcasting equivalent of a linkblog, selecting audio files from anywhere on the internet and combining them into one podcast, whether they were recorded by the user or not. For example, a user can submit the URLS of audio interviews found on the internet and combine them into one amazing series of interviews. Users can "Huffduff" audio files by installing a bookmarklet or submitting audio files on the Huffduff website. A Huffduff podcast is distributed through XML/RSS just like a regular podcast.

Odiogo

Why read a blog post when you can listen to it? Odiogo allows users to extract the text from an RSS file and automatically converts it into audio files that readers can subscribe to. And no weird choppy robot voices either, Odiogo sounds like a human being not a computer (click here to listen to an Odiogo-created audio file of the post "Steal This Blog!"). Odiogo is free for bloggers and works with such blogging sites as Wordpress, Blogger and Typepad.

AudioBoo

AudioBoo is taking advantage of mobile technology by allowing anyone with an iPhone to record podcasts on the go. The free iPhone application lets users record up to five minutes of audio and add a title, tags and/or image using the iPhone camera. The audio file is then uploaded to the site where it can be embedded on a website or blog or shared on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Check out previously recorded podcasts, called "AudioBoos," on the AudioBoo website.

FriendBoo

An offshoot of AudioBoo, FriendBoo lets users of the social media aggregator FriendFeed post audio updates directly to the site. FriendBoo users call a dedicated number to record their micropodcast and the audio is made available in an embedded player in the user's feed. The process is very simple and is great for people who already have an existing audience with FriendFeed.

NPR Podcasts

Creating a great podcast doesn't have to mean recording your own audio. NPR lets users mix and match their favorite NPR shows on everything from politics to health to money and create a single feed that they can subscribe to. NPR fans can search for a specific show or choose shows to include by topic.




Also on 10,000 Words:

• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• How to record audio that doesn't take hours to edit

Labels: audio

Sure your fancy video camera cost $2,000, but can it record underwater? No? Well if you're feeling extravagant or just have some extra funds left in the budget check out these gadgets that will take your work to new heights.

ContourHD Wearable Camera

Other helmet cameras have been featured here before, none of which captured such sweet-looking high definition video. The ContourHD records in a 1280 x 720 pixel, widescreen format at 30 or 60 frames per second and records up to 8 hours of video and audio. Be sure to check out some of the video captured by satisfied customers.

($299.99 | B&H Photo)

ProTrack Handheld Audio Recorder for iPod

Turn your iPod or iPod Touch into a powerful recording machine with this cool add-on. The ProTrack has a built-in stereo microphone and requires no cords, but also has an XLR input for connecting external mics. The recorder also comes with a headphone jack and — for 20 bucks more — a nifty tripod.

($159 | B&H Photo)

GardenWatchCam

Perfect for the horticulturally-minded photojournalist, the GardenWatchCam is a time-lapse camera that can be placed anywhere to capture nature's beauty over time. The small camera is weather-resistant and can capture photos at seven different time settings. The 1.3-megapixel camera runs on AA batteries and connects to the computer's USB port.

($139.95 | Amazon)

SRV-1 Blackfin Mobile Surveillance Robot

Let this pint-sized robot camera do all your dangerous shooting for you. The tank-like camera operates wirelessly, shoots at up to 1280 x 1024 resolution and fits in the palm of your hand. The little guy moves a foot a second and can run for 4 hours on a single charge. The SRV-1 requires some knowledge of computer programming to operate, but because it can tread where no human dare go, it is worth the effort.

($474.99 | ThinkGeek)

Infrared Flashlight Video Recorder

Sometimes journalism takes you to some dark and mysterious places. You can use your regular camera's onboard light or just use this handheld flashlight that doubles as a video camera. The flashlight records up to 15 seconds of video at 30 frames per second or 500 photos at 640 x 480 resolution with its 128MB of built-in memory. All the footage shot is downloadable via your computer's USB port.

($399.95 | Hammacher Schlemmer)

Pet's Eye View Digital Camera

Entertain Fido's ambition to become a photographer with this compact camera that fits securely on your pet's collar. The digital camera can be set at 1, 5, or 15 minute-intervals and is perfect for gaining insight on the daily lives of animals. Note: expect lots of photos of fire hydrants and worn out couches.

($49.99 | ThinkGeek)


Also on 10,000 Words:

• 30 Must-have gifts for journalists
• Crazy gadgets that are (possibly) crazy useful
• 6 Creative approaches to photography

Labels: audio, photos, video

1. The White House

Just a few months ago, the new presidential administration was greeted with antiquated computers and technology that forbade access to social networks like Facebook or even outside email. Fast forward to today and there are now a variety of ways to connect and interact online with the White House.

The official White House site has been revamped and updated to include a blog to keep the world abreast of President Obama and crew. The site also contains a number of photo slideshows based largely on photos from the official Flickr photostream.



The White House's official YouTube channel contains loads of speeches and press briefings and — to dispel earlier allegations of technology favoritism — the same content is also available on Vimeo.

After Barack Obama's landmark use of social networking during his presidential campaign it should come as no surprise that the White House is also friending people across the world. The president's pad has more than 126,000 followers on Twitter and follows a number of government agencies, including FEMA and NASA.

The White House also has more than 205,000 fans on Facebook and the president himself has more than six million fans, more than anyone else on the site. The White House is also on MySpace, along with both President Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden.

2. The Vatican

As highlighted in this month's issue of mental_floss magazine, The Vatican — the centuries-old religious institution — is also down with new technology.

The official newspaper of The Vatican, L'Osservatore Romano, is available online in several languages as are many programs from Vatican Radio. The official radio station of Vatican City also has podcasts available for listening or to download.


Flickr photo of Pope Benedict XVI by Paul Resh

The Vatican's official YouTube has almost 200 videos that range from morning prayers to papal visits. The Vatican even has its own iPhone app that contains prayers and scriptural readings and is available in six languages.

3. Major League Baseball

MLB has all the bases covered with its wide range of ways to follow games electronically. The most impressive offering is MLB.TV, a subscription service where baseball fans can watch live games online in high definition. The site streams 100 games a week to hundreds of thousands of subscribers and the quality is hard to match.

If you prefer your baseball on the go, MLB has a series of iPhone apps including MLB At Bat, where fans can find the latest scores, standings and schedules, and MLB World Series 2009, an interactive game that features all 30 MLB clubs.

The official MLB site contains various other ways to get your baseball fix, including a series of blogs, podcasts, video clips and photo galleries. There is also an official Facebook page where social networkers can step up to the plate.

4. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI, America's hub of criminal investigation with a reputation for secrecy, recently announced a slew of online efforts that will make the agency more open and approachable.

The Bureau's official Twitter feed shares criminal alerts and press releases with its thousands of followers and similar content is shared on the official FBI Facebook page. The videos featured on the FBI's YouTube channel give an insider's view of such operations as bomb training and prostitution stings.



In an effort to spread news of and apprehend the fugitives on its famed Most Wanted List, the FBI also has several widgets available that anyone can embed on their blog, site or social network profile and apparently the new media approach is working. The widgets have directed more than 2.5 million people to the FBI website and the Most Wanted widget averages more than a thousand views a day, according to a press release.

The FBI even plans to take its Most Wanted list to Second Life where virtual visitors can keep tabs on real-life criminals.



Also on 10,000 Words:

• 12 Things to tell your tech-impaired editor
• Great online journalism from non-traditional journalists
• Create brilliant multimedia projects from the mundane
• Visual and interactive guides to the economic crisis
• Sports arenas: How to put a multimedia twist on traditional coverage

Labels: audio, photos, social networking, video, widgets

New York City...center of the universe. Okay not quite, but there are a lot of great multimedia stories and interactive projects emerging from the City that Never Sleeps.

There is perhaps no better way to take in the many landmarks of Manhattan than an aerial tour of the area. In today's economy, a helicopter ride perhaps isn't the most efficient means of transportation, but thanks to Pixelcase you can still take in magnificent views of the city. The interactive, panoramic photographs let users zoom across the New York skyline, above the noise and traffic. More on how to create similar panoramas here and here.



The following map of a horizonless Manhattan has been circulating around the internet for good reason: it is a unique take on the flat map we are so used to seeing. The map, created by London design studio Schulze & Webb, was created and fine-tuned using 3D imaging software.



The City Concealed, a project of THIRTEEN, explores some of the hidden gems of New York City through a series of online videos. Offbeat locales such as the tombs and catacombs of Green-Wood Cemetery and Brooklyn Navy Yard — places likely overlooked by even native New Yorkers — are profiled. (Link courtesy of @fgeorge)



While the sights and sounds of NYC are fascinating, it is the city's more than 8 million residents that bring it to life. Tough Times, a project created by students at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, uses a combination of print stories, Flash, audio slideshows and video to tell the stories of New Yorkers struggling with the current economic crisis.

For example, the harrowing story of Maisha Morales, a single mother from Brooklyn, is detailed in a print story, but her raw emotion emerges from the accompanying video. A thoughtful analysis of Morales' situation is explained in an easy-to-navigate Flash infographic.



Local publication amNY also has a comprehensive collection of interactive photo slideshows and video, including "Young and Muslim in NYC," a series of video interviews complemented by traditional print stories.



Of course, one cannot discuss multimedia in New York City without mentioning the New York Times. The new media powerhouse is known for its captivating projects that explore global and national issues, but some of its most intriguing are those that focus on the city itself.

One such example is One in 8 Million, a series of audio slideshows that explore the lives of average New Yorkers. Stories include those of Melissa Dixson, a painter turned taxidermist and Christian Hubert, a bicyclist who suffers from vertigo.



The project is reminiscent of the Going to the End of the Line photo story featured in this post. The project focused on stations at the end of train lines where most commuters never venture.

The Water Dance, another photo slideshow from the New York Times, takes a simple, often overlooked moment and visualizes it as a metaphor for humanity. The result is one of the most captivating multimedia pieces to emerge this year.



One point should remain clear: While New York attracts creative minds from all over the world, the city does not have a monopoly on multimedia journalism. Large papers like the New York Times may have vast resources, but compelling multimedia projects can be created by anyone anywhere.

Have a multimedia story or project you're proud of? Share it in the comments and it just might be featured here on 10,000 Words.


Also on 10,000 Words:

• Multimedia: Chicago, in Color
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• Museums as Inspiration: Museum of Modern Art

Labels: audio, flash, maps, photos, video

A news story that will make national or international headlines is breaking. Quick...what do you do? If you don't have already have a game plan for how to report a crisis online, now's the time to start making preemptive plans. Most newsrooms already have reporters to turn to for print stories and broadcast news coverage, but here are few multimedia components to consider so the internet audience is informed as well.

Maps

The first multimedia component that should be added to a breaking news story is a map that shows exactly where the incident occurred. This can be as simple as a computer-generated map created with Illustrator or mapping software, like the one included in this BBC News story to illustrate where Burma and its 2007 protests took place. Or it could be an uncomplicated Google Map like the one adjacent to a Record story on a bear attack.



Interactive Google map mashups can be created fairly quickly with a number of online programs, the easiest of which is likely FM Atlas. Addresses and locations can be plotted on a map and made ready to embed within minutes. Just be sure to verify the location before posting it online to avoid the Georgia/Georgia screwups that happened last year.


Flash animation/timeline

If a major catastrophe occurs, people want to know how it happened. A very basic interactive graphic or even a flat infographic should be built to better internet readers understanding of the crisis. Examples include washingtonpost.com's interactive explanation of the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse and the Press & Sun Bulletin's illustration of last week's Binghamton shooting. Flash graphics can be overwrought and complicated if you allow them to be, but sometimes it just takes a simple illustration to communicate a story. The interactive can be embellished later when time is less of a factor.



Audio slideshow

As disasters occur, telling photos come streaming in from staff photographers or from wire services. Creating an audio slideshow that combines these photos with raw or edited audio collected by field reporters is a fast way to showcase both the story and the emotion behind it. Also, interactive slideshows are often the most popular stories on any news site.

A simple slideshow, with or without audio, can be created using a pre-existing template or with slideshow maker Soundslides. Examples include Reuters' slideshow of reporter David Gray's response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and its recent encapsulation of the Italian earthquake.



Resources

Once readers are informed of how a disaster happened, it's up the news outlet to provide resources to victims and their families. Post-Hurricane Katrina, MSNBC put together message boards and useful links, as well as comprehensive list of ways readers could donate to relief efforts. In the midst of the fires that raged through California, the Los Angeles Times created a Google map of evacuation centers that showed exactly where victims could go for help.



Landing page

Most importantly, all the print stories, multimedia, interactive graphics and blog posts should be aggregated on one page to serve as a single destination for those looking for information related to the crisis. Not only does a landing page make content easily accessible but it makes the hunt for the latest news less of a struggle when time may be a factor.


Also on 10,000 Words

• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes
• How to save time when using Flash
• How the internet is changing how natural disasters are covered
• Landmark moments in citizen journalism
• 7 Eye-popping interactive timelines (and 3 ways to create one)
• How to quickly track natural disasters online

Labels: audio, flash, maps, photos, site management

Online photo slideshows are an increasing popular tool by online news sites to illustrate news stories and showcase their best photography. Photo slideshow creators like Soundslides and other online alternatives make creating them easier, but not necessarily better. Here are some of the common pitfalls to avoid:


1. Too many or too few photos

Too many photos crammed into one slideshow usually means each photo only appears for a second or two, barely enough time for the viewer to take each one in. Too few photos means each photo remains on screen way too long, making the slideshow feel drawn out and boring. Avoid either extreme by editing the narration or selecting only the most relevant and necessary photos. Two to three minutes in length is best. Any longer risks losing the viewers attention.


2. Unmatched photos

If the subject is discussing their cat, don't show a duck. If they are describing a sad time in their life, don't show a photo from their bachelor party. Like in broadcast news packages, the photos that appear should reflect what the subject is discussing. More commonly, some slideshows will use an interview as narration, but won't visually identify the person who is speaking until midway through the slideshow, if at all. Whenever possible, include a photo of the speaker at the beginning of their talk so the viewer knows who is speaking.


3. No captions

A pretty picture is just that without identification of what is happening in the photo. Write clear and concise captions for each photo, including the people, places or things being shown and the photographers' names, to take the guesswork out of viewing a slideshow.


4. Awkward transitions

The voice of the narrator is saying something poignant and yikes! the photo has changed mid-sentence or mid-thought. Soundslides and some other slideshow editors allow the user to adjust the length of each slide. If the slideshow has narration, tweak each slide to fade in or out during natural pauses and breaks to lessen the chance for awkward transitions.


5. Overpowering music

Many slideshow editors add royalty-free music to their projects to support the narration and heighten the drama. Unfortunately, because many forget to adjust audio levels, the music drowns out the narrator or interviewee. Use a sound editing program like Audacity or similar programs to edit the audio before it is added to the slideshow and ensure that what's important — the human voice — isn't being overshadowed.


Also on 10,000 Words:

• Move over Soundslides: 4 Free online slideshow creators
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• How to create, edit and embed audio for free

Labels: audio, photos

The photo slideshow has revolutionized online journalism and can be seen on nearly every major news site. Many are created in Flash and many more are created using the popular program Soundslides. The problem is building slideshows in Flash can be daunting for the non-technical reporter and Soundslides, while extraordinarily simple to use, costs money. Because many newsrooms face financial difficulty, journalists must cut corners where they can.

In that spirit, the following free online slideshow creators allow the user to blend photos and audio to create embeddable slideshows without spending money on software. Each slideshow was created with the same seven photos (source) and 30-second audio clip. Which one is best? You be the judge.

PhotoPeach

How easy was it? Very. PhotoPeach's Java-based uploader and drag-and-drop interface make creating slideshows a breeze. However, users must use audio that currently exists on YouTube, meaning you can theoretically host your audio on YouTube and then search for it. But because the audio is not synced with the actual slideshow, if the viewer were to pause the audio would continue.

Joggle

(slideshow autoplays, click to view embedded version)



How easy was it? Joggle's interface isn't very intuitive and takes a minute to get used to. Fundamentally, the user uploads photos, audio or video and arranges them into a slideshow. The result looks amazing, but the embedded slideshow a) lets the users toggle the speed of the presentation b) autoplays the audio which is a sure way to drive users crazy and c) plays the audio on a loop. Joggle is still in beta, so hopefully some of those quirks will eventually be corrected.

Flowgram

How easy was it? By far the simplest and most user-friendly slideshow creator of those reviewed. The upload and arrangement was much like a friendly customer service agent helping the process along. Flowgram has many features other online slideshow creators don't: the ability to set individual times for each photo, synced audio that can be uploaded by the user and an uncomplicated drag-and-drop layout. Users can also record audio directly into the slideshow.

The only two qualms are that the resulting widget didn't show the uploaded photos (kind of important) so another working slideshow was embedded as a demo. Also, there is no way to add captions (Flowgram does offer a notes feature, but it is very bulky), but this can be circumvented by adding captions in an image editing program.

Animoto

How easy was it? Too easy. Animoto bills itself as "the end of slideshows" and while the creation process is quick and painless, it's mostly because the online tool does the customization for you. Instead a simple fade-in and fade-out, Animoto "feels" each photo and creates a visually dazzling slideshow based on the audio you provide. While this is great for the casual slideshow maker, professional journalists may not find this tool quite as useful.


And there you have it. The aforementioned tools may not be a replacement for Soundslides, but they do the trick. For innovative alternatives to the photo slideshow, check out Vuvox and Capzles, two sites for presenting slideshows in timeline form. For tips on what makes a great photo slideshow, check out this Poynter column.


Also on 10,000 Words
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• 7 Eye-popping interactive timelines (and 3 ways to create one)
• Where to find the best in Flash journalism
• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes

Labels: audio, photos

The internet is full of places for graphic designers to find inspiration, but where are sound designers to go to be inspired? Right here, of course. The following songs combine lush instrumentation, complex arrangements and, in some cases, avant-garde editing to create evocative pieces that tell a story, sometimes without words. Close your eyes and take a listen:

1. "Frontier Psychiatrist," by The Avalanches

Frontier Psychiatrist is nearly five minutes of nonsensical audio clips taken from a movie, strung together and layered on top of a driving beat. The magic is that in all of its insanity, everything still works together.

2. "ROAR! (Cloverfield Overture)," by Michael Giacchino

Moviegoers were divided over Cloverfield upon its release, but any audiophile will appreciate the thunderous piece that helped drive the film and gave the monster its bite.

3. Symphony No. 9; 4th Movement (Ode to Joy), Beethoven

The original music maestro's orchestration is at times delicate and sweet and at others grandiose and triumphant. The greatest achievement of the song is conveying a sense of might and power without a single word (that is, until the chorus kicks in).

4. "The Diva Dance," by Inva Mula-Tchako/Eric Serra

Tchako's acrobatic soprano is sure to spark a debate: Is she actually singing those seemingly impossible notes or was the performance digitally altered? While a close listen supports the latter opinion, the filmmakers insist that it was not.

5. "Dora the Explorer" (Baltimore remix)

A harmless children's television theme is chopped up and given a thumping bass line, transforming the innocent song into something completely different (listen to the original here).

6. "Overture," by DeVotchKa

The indie fave band gives Danny Elfman's original composition for The Nightmare Before Christmas an injection of Eastern European flavor on the recently released "Nightmare Revisited" album. Listen with headphones and you will hear each weird and wacky instrument clearly, though there are many to listen for.

7. "Hot Lunch Jam," Fame: Original Soundtrack

The kinetic energy of the 1980 film is epitomized in this disco-funk jam that starts with a simple drum beat and crescendos into layer upon layer of electrifying sound.

8. "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins

The operatic tone of "Tonight, Tonight" is cinematic and moving, even without the haunting vocals of frontman Billy Corgan.

9. "United State of Pop," mixed by DJ Earworm

The top 25 songs of 2007 are mixed into one seamless track. It's hard to tell whether this should be attributed to DJ Earworm's masterful mixing skills or the homogenization of modern pop music.

10. "Rhapsody in Blue," George Gershwin

Gershwin's 1924 jazz/classical instrumental composition was given a narrative courtesy of Disney's Fantasia, but as a solo piece, its highs and lows create a musical landscape that gives the listener's imagination a platform to run wild.

Labels: audio

Many multimedia and video journalists require ambient music for their projects, but truly free royalty-free music and sound effects are hard to come by. Most companies charge hefty one-time prices to use their products, which usually puts them out of the price range of the average financially-challenged media outlet.

Incompetech has a host of royalty-free music available, though donations are accepted. Flash Kit also has both sound loops and sound effects available for download.

Another option is to use public domain music, or music that falls outside of copyright protection. Public Domain 4U has a lot of public domain MP3s available (mostly jazz/blues), while Musopen has a large selection of classical music for immediate download.

Sound FX hunters will find both Soundsnap, with its user-friendly search interface, and FindSounds, with its preview waveforms, two of the best online resources for sounds. Mac users can also make use of GarageBand's sound effects library. Other sites for free sound effects include Soungle.com and SoundJay.com. For more resources, check out Hongkiat.com's 55 great websites to download free sound effects or this list of additional resources.

There is a prevalent myth among audio-seeking journalists that any piece of music, copyrighted or not, can be used freely as long as the clip is under 30 seconds. This is, in most cases, untrue and opens the user and company up to potential lawsuits. The best approach is to stick with the music and sound effects that are explicitly free.

For a quick history of what makes a great, iconic sound, check out mental_floss' 17 Most Recognizable Trademarked Sounds.


Also on 10,000 Words:

• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• 9 Tips for recording audio for the web
• How to record audio that doesn't take hours to edit

Labels: audio

1. Panedia

Panedia has combined two great online technologies — panoramas and maps — to create an annotated virtual tour of some of Australia's most beautiful sites.

2. terraSound

TerraSound has found another great multimedia combination — this time maps and sound — to create the sense of a walking down a city's sidewalk while monitoring your position on a map.

3. Twitter Weather Map

The weather map parses tweets about climates in the United States and with a little bit of math displays the information on a simple map.

4. 2itch

2itch answers a simple question "What is open 24 hours a day in my neighborhood?" with an interactive Google maps mashup.

5. Ride the City

New Yorkers who prefer two wheels to taxis and trains can input their starting and stopping points and get the safest route for biking through the Big Apple.

6. World News Map

While there are several sites that display current news on a map, maplandia.com displays geotagged news going back to 2005, which is an impressive feat.

7. Olympic medalists map

If you're still in Olympics withdrawal, this comprehensive map of the hometowns of Olympic medalists around the world should do the trick.

8. OnionMap

Many maps may be mind-blowing, but at the same time are also mind-numbingly flat. OnionMap puts a new angle on things by showcasing a map that is both visually striking and, through its search features, incredibly useful.

9. Breaking News Map

Another news map, except this one has filters for viewing particular topics such as business, politics or entertainment.

10. 08 DNC Events

To all the journalists hanging around Denver this week for the Democratic National Convention, be sure to take a little time to enjoy yourself by attending any of the mapped events held this week in The Mile-High City.




And the 3 ways to create them:

1. UMapper

UMapper has a simple interface for creating map mashups and allows for importing data feeds as well as creating lines, labels and shapes. The finished map can be exported to Flash ActionScript 3.0 or KML.

2. Yahoo! MapMixer

Now that maps are all over the internet, it's time to bring some uniqueness to the party. MapMixer is a simple way to overlay an existing map on top of a Yahoo! Map, thus giving an image the functionality of a map mashup.

3. map a list

The latest in mashup technology lets users create a map from a Google Spreadsheet. And, like the best things in life, the service is free.


Also on 10,000 Words
• 5 Ways to create a Google Map in minutes
• 10 Mind-blowing maps (and 3 ways to create them)
• How to create a Google Map in about 30 minutes
• 8 Beautifully Designed Maps

Labels: audio, database, maps