As investigative journalists, we’re always searching for impactful ways to help readers see what we’ve uncovered. Maps, satellite images, illustrations, and charts often carry the weight of a story more powerfully than text alone. But turning these visuals into compelling stories can feel daunting — especially without a developer on your team. This hands-on workshop is designed for journalists who want to build visual, interactive “scrollytelling” stories using a low-tech, DIY approach.
Together, we’ll use a ready-made HTML template — originally created by Jonathan Soma for beginner coders and further customised by me — to create vertical scrollytelling pieces driven by static visuals. These can include photographs, illustrations, or static maps. You'll learn how to structure your narrative so the visuals take centre stage.
This session is ideal for journalists working in smaller newsrooms or independently, who want to make their stories stand out visually without relying on full-stack developers. By the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with:
- A reusable HTML scrolly template you can adapt to your own stories
- Practical skills in customising layout and flow with basic HTML and CSS
- Tips for embedding your scrolly piece into your newsroom’s website — or publishing it independently
- A curated list of tools and resources to keep experimenting and improving
Requirements:
- Basic knowledge of HTML and CSS
- A laptop with Visual Studio Code installed (it's free and built on open source, and you can download it here)
- (Optional but helpful) Familiarity with GitHub
