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An Innovative Mix of News and Maps

August 5, 2005 5:31 PM Posted by mac

Larry Larsen, Poynter's multimedia editor, shows how Google's map system can be linked to a local newspaper in this St. Petersburg Times mock-up. (More information is available at E-Media Tidbits.)

Larsen's mock-up is notable for two reasons:

  1. It integrates Google's free mapping technology into an established news Web site. Let me repeat that: the Google Map API is free. This means there's little development cost for publishers, so even the most budget-conscious organization (or individual) can weave robust technology into their Web products with no risk. Opportunities like this are rare.

  2. The mock-up is a visual representation of local coverage. I can't stress how important this is. Programmers get hopped up about the local coverage capabilities of personal portal sites like My Yahoo, but the end-products of these sites are simple text links pointing to simple text stories. Few users understand (or care about) the intricate programming behind this information. But if you whip out a visual mapping system that shows, to the street, where local news is happening, you're going to drop a few jaws.
I won't be surprised if Larsen's concept -- or a variation -- eventually becomes a standard feature on news Web sites and mobile devices. It's a marriage of cutting-edge technology and practical application that just makes sense. -- Mac Slocum


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