{"id":181,"date":"2016-06-15T11:23:49","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T11:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/?p=181"},"modified":"2016-06-15T11:24:38","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T11:24:38","slug":"using-data-to-tell-a-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/06\/15\/using-data-to-tell-a-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Using data to tell a story"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my last blogpost <\/a>I looked at ‘peak content’ and shared some tips for creating shareable content for use on social platforms. One of the most popular pieces of content shared on social is infographics. The great thing about them is that they’re an excellent way of using data to tell a story. Newspapers have long been creating them in print to illustrate stories, and the Guardian and the FT both have dedicated data journalists and designers that have created some great infographics in recent years. Done well, they prompt a discussion or conversation (or sometimes an argument).<\/p>\n

The Guardian datablog<\/a> is a good place to start to seek out some nice examples of infographics and data visualisations. It may be a few years old now, but their infographic on Government department spending in 2011 (below) is a fantastic example of what a good infographic should do – using data to tell an interesting story in a visually stimulating way. Yes, it’s busy, there’s a lot of information on there, but for politics nerds and designers it’s quite something.<\/p>\n

\"Government<\/a><\/p>\n

However, it’s a bit too detailed for the average social media timeline – too much zooming in and losing your way. But if you have the time to pore over the figures it’s perfect.<\/p>\n

An excellent recent example that worked well on social is the one below from National Parks Wales<\/a>, who used some data about their parks to tell a great story about their impact on people, businesses and on the country. It’s simply done but well executed, and perfect for social. It prompted discussions about the importance of green space on well-being and the impact of global warming.<\/p>\n

\"National<\/a><\/p>\n

Here at\u00a0Sheffield Hallam, we commissioned a designer to create an infographic for use both on social and as a handout for some of our regional stakeholders. We wanted it to tell the story of our impact\u00a0in the city region through supporting jobs and driving economic growth. We posted it on Twitter and LinkedIn, and it was widely shared by our business-engaged audiences. It’s also a useful handout for staff who are working with stakeholders and want to provide them with something which demonstrates our impact.<\/p>\n

\"SHU<\/a><\/p>\n

Commissioning a designer is a good idea, but not everyone can afford that. If you want to try yourself, there are some useful free tools out there. Websites like FlatIcon<\/a> have lots of useful free icons and images that you can download, and Infogram <\/a>is a good online tool to help you create something from scratch. There are some good templates in software such as Prezi<\/a> and even MS Powerpoint. If you do give it a go, have a read of Guardian data journalist George Arnett’s article on some golden rules and things to avoid<\/a> before you get started.<\/p>\n

Ally Mogg, head of news and PR
\n@allymogg<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my last blogpost I looked at ‘peak content’ and shared some tips for creating shareable content for use on social platforms. One of the most popular pieces of content shared on social is infographics. The great thing about them is that they’re an excellent way of using data to tell a story. Newspapers have long been creating them in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1175,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,22,11],"tags":[16,41,40],"class_list":["post-181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-case-studies","category-linkedin","category-twitter","tag-content","tag-design","tag-infographics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7mXc8-2V","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":397,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2017\/04\/20\/linkedin-3x3-three-really-good-things-about-linkedin\/","url_meta":{"origin":181,"position":0},"title":"LinkedIn 3×3: Three really good things about LinkedIn","author":"Joseph Field","date":"April 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Last month I presented at the CASE Social Media and Community Conference, an excellent two-day event for higher education\u00a0mar-comms and alumni relations\u00a0professionals to meet up and exchange ideas. Alongside LinkedIn's Higher Education Partner Charles Hardy, I spoke about our use of LinkedIn for brand awareness, business engagement and alumni engagement.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "LinkedIn"","block_context":{"text":"LinkedIn","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/linkedin\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/04\/LinkedIn-Learning-Launch-Hero.jpg?fit=810%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/04\/LinkedIn-Learning-Launch-Hero.jpg?fit=810%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/04\/LinkedIn-Learning-Launch-Hero.jpg?fit=810%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/04\/LinkedIn-Learning-Launch-Hero.jpg?fit=810%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":173,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/06\/03\/installation-successful\/","url_meta":{"origin":181,"position":1},"title":"Installation successful","author":"Sara Kouchakji-Allen","date":"June 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Husbands, was formally installed in a ceremony at Sheffield Cathedral. There was an audience of more than 300 guests in attendance- a mixture of local bigwigs, staff and students. Professor Husbands is only the fourth VC we've had at Hallam, so these moments of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Facebook"","block_context":{"text":"Facebook","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/facebook\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/06\/Prof-Chris-Husbands-Installation-Web.jpg?fit=750%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/06\/Prof-Chris-Husbands-Installation-Web.jpg?fit=750%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/06\/Prof-Chris-Husbands-Installation-Web.jpg?fit=750%2C500&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/06\/Prof-Chris-Husbands-Installation-Web.jpg?fit=750%2C500&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":302,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/10\/07\/shuinsiders-the-pilot-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":181,"position":2},"title":"#SHUinsiders \u2013 the pilot year","author":"Helen Horton","date":"October 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Back in summer 2015 we created the first Insider's Guide to Sheffield Hallam \u2013 an all-encompassing manual to the University and the city, predominately aimed at new undergraduates. The guide featured students who shared their views on the whole Sheffield Hallam experience, and they were christened the SHUinsiders. Exploring the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case studies"","block_context":{"text":"Case studies","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/case-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/10\/Clarissa.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/10\/Clarissa.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/10\/Clarissa.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/10\/Clarissa.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/03\/17\/content-content-content\/","url_meta":{"origin":181,"position":3},"title":"Content Content Content","author":"Ally Mogg","date":"March 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A few months ago I read an article by the economist Will Hutton about people in the west reaching the point of 'peak stuff'. In the article he described how consumer demand for shiny new things seemed to be losing its appeal as we've all accumulated so much stuff in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Strategy"","block_context":{"text":"Strategy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/strategy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"peak stuff (Photograph Paper Boat CreativeGetty Images)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/03\/peak-stuff-Photograph-Paper-Boat-CreativeGetty-Images-300x180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":335,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/11\/29\/six-principles-of-doing-video-better\/","url_meta":{"origin":181,"position":4},"title":"Six principles of doing video better","author":"Joseph Field","date":"November 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"There's been a massive growth in online video consumption in the last two or three years. According to the latest stats, half of us are regularly watching video on mobile\u00a0devices. And the trend is set to continue. No big surprises, then. But the definition of video is changing: we watch\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Facebook"","block_context":{"text":"Facebook","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/facebook\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/20161117_141725_Burst25.jpg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/20161117_141725_Burst25.jpg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/20161117_141725_Burst25.jpg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/20161117_141725_Burst25.jpg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/20161117_141725_Burst25.jpg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":271,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/09\/23\/clearing\/","url_meta":{"origin":181,"position":5},"title":"Clearing 2016 \u2013 three ways we used social media to make a difference","author":"Joseph Field","date":"September 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A-level results day. It can be\u00a0an incredibly stressful time for students and, depending on what happens, it might involve them changing their study plans very quickly. At Hallam, hundreds of members of staff (and student ambassadors) from across\u00a0the University worked tirelessly to help those people, recruiting new students to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case studies"","block_context":{"text":"Case studies","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/case-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Clearing2.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Clearing2.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Clearing2.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Clearing2.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":189,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181\/revisions\/189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}