When social media, data journalism and football combine
I've sacked off The Brief for tonight and instead I will focus on a superb example from the Liverpool Echo (disclosure: The Echo is one of the sites I work with as Senior Digital Producer with Trinity Mirror Digital) of a really human way to do data journalism.
For many data journalism often ends up being pretty maps showing the amount of crime, or deprivation in an area compared to another. I'm not belittling these efforts, and I'm a huge fan of the efforts of Claire Miller, the Guardian Datastore and others, but...
This joyous map was generated by the Echo after it asked its social media followers around the world where they would be watching the game. It's stunningly simple but a great reminder of just what social media can achieve, to allow you to connect with your audience who are passionate about your area no matter where they are. Going to Wembley is, and always will be, an emotional rollercoaster for any football fan and watching your time, whether it's on a battered TV set in the Australian outback or from Row E at Wembley itself, is one of the highlights for any footie fan.
It's also a timely reminder of the global reach and power of English football as Liverpool and Everton prepare to clash at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final.
You can see the map below, which has nearly 2,000 views already. And I have a sneaky suspicion it'd make an awesome graphic to re-publish in print, showing the global support for both sides.
[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211731659263515433730.0004bd7aa6165bf79ab57&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&source=embed&ll=31.353637,45.703125&spn=149.008084,61.875&z=1&output=embed&w=600&h=350]
It brings me back to Alison Gow's ever more timely piece - featured in yesterday's The Brief - about disruption in the newsroom, and how this might not be considered 'great journalism' traditionally but it is 'great content' and allows the Echo to connect with a global readership while giving its local readership something interesting and visual to look at.
Image credit to Martin SFP