The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Visualizing the spread of Coronavirus (Interview)
Apr 13, 2020
Harry Stevens, a Graphics Reporter at The Washington Post, shares insights from his acclaimed article on COVID-19's exponential spread. He discusses the critical role of data visualization in making complex information accessible. Stevens highlights the development of an interactive coronavirus simulator and the art of effective communication through visuals. He emphasizes the blending of journalism, technical skills, and the challenge of combating misinformation. Additionally, he reflects on the evolving landscape of journalism during the pandemic and the importance of education in graphics reporting.
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Viral Visualization
- Harry Stevens's Washington Post article on coronavirus spread became their most read post ever.
- Its success was partly due to perfect timing and filling a critical information gap.
Multidisciplinary Reporting
- Graphics reporting demands multidisciplinary skills, blending journalism, design, and coding.
- Coding has replaced drawing as the essential tool for creating interactive online visuals.
Simulitis, Not COVID-19
- The article uses a simplified "simulitis" disease model instead of a complex COVID-19 simulation.
- This approach effectively illustrates network effects and individual actions' impact on disease spread, offering a sense of agency.