Credit Where it’s Due: The Australian’s interactive obituary for Gough Whitlam
On a day when media outlets have been rolling out pre-prepared obituaries for Gough Whitlam The Australian’s interactive effort is head and shoulders above the competition.
The news of the death of Gough Whitlam at the age of 98 has had all of the mainstream media running extensive coverage of the life of the former Prime Minister. But standing out above the pack was The Australian’s interactive special.
While it has been common practice for media outlets to have obituaries prepared for prominent figures, it is unusual to have something so intricately detailed, which will have taken many hours to craft, ready to roll out.
If you haven’t looked at it, the obituary by veteran political correspondent Mike Steketee is well worth a read. It looks at the Labor leader’s long career and how his policies impacted Australia.
However, it is the deeply immersive experience the reader is treated to as they scroll down the lengthy piece, with changing feature images, pull-out quotes popping up, an array of picture galleries and an interactive timeline stepping you through the life of Whitlam, which sets it apart from the efforts of rivals.
Whilst many may lament the loss of the art of immersive long-form storytelling in hard copy newspapers, this shows what can be done when talented journalists, photographers and designers get their heads together to take the reader on a journey. And it’s not hidden away behind the paywall.
More please.
Credit Where it’s Due is all about generating positivity about our fantastic industry. While we welcome positive and constructive comments, anonymous or otherwise, this feature a snark-free zone so please bear that in mind when commenting.
snark aside, let’s be honest, it’s just having a punt each way. While their columnists besmirch the Whitlam’s legacy, they don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to profit from it either.
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