Comments for Help by Hacks/Hackers http://help.hackshackers.com An interactive forum where journalists and technologists figure out what’s possible in news and media Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:24:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-beta2-20538 Comment on Easy way to make nice looking “explainer” videos? by shawnhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/easy-way-to-make-nice-looking-explainer-videos/#comment-573 shawn Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:24:05 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/easy-way-to-make-nice-looking-explainer-videos/#comment-573 Screencasting is a good idea if you're looking to provide a walkthrough of your website. Keep in mind that this is more of an educational angle for a video and should mainly be used for existing customers. To be honest, most screencasts are boring to new customers.If you're looking for a promotional video to convert visitors into customers, a screencast won't do the trick 95% of the time. There's no substitute for a custom-made explainer video, and you'll have to pay for that (anywhere from $1,000 - $25,000 per minute; you can find good quality for around $3,000 - $5,000). I've seen people try to do them on their own, but it's not worth the time and effort if you're going to create one or only a few -- it's similar to learning to code a website.When you start, think about whether you need an animator or a video agency. An animator will be able to take your vision and turn that into a video; an agency will be able to do animation in addition to helping you craft the story, create the script, and add background music and effects (but is more costly).Shawn Arora LaunchSpark Video Screencasting is a good idea if you’re looking to provide a walkthrough of your website. Keep in mind that this is more of an educational angle for a video and should mainly be used for existing customers. To be honest, most screencasts are boring to new customers.

If you’re looking for a promotional video to convert visitors into customers, a screencast won’t do the trick 95% of the time. There’s no substitute for a custom-made explainer video, and you’ll have to pay for that (anywhere from $1,000 – $25,000 per minute; you can find good quality for around $3,000 – $5,000). I’ve seen people try to do them on their own, but it’s not worth the time and effort if you’re going to create one or only a few — it’s similar to learning to code a website.

When you start, think about whether you need an animator or a video agency. An animator will be able to take your vision and turn that into a video; an agency will be able to do animation in addition to helping you craft the story, create the script, and add background music and effects (but is more costly).

Shawn Arora
LaunchSpark Video

]]> Comment on Easy way to make nice looking “explainer” videos? by JuliaSchneiderhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/easy-way-to-make-nice-looking-explainer-videos/#comment-569 JuliaSchneider Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:49:52 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/easy-way-to-make-nice-looking-explainer-videos/#comment-569 You can make explainer videos by hiring affordable animation studios like Kasra Design (http://www.kasradesign.com). It worth the investment ;) You can make explainer videos by hiring affordable animation studios like Kasra Design (http://www.kasradesign.com). It worth the investment ;)

]]> Comment on by kargerhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/basic-data-visualization-tools/#comment-533 karger Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:40:13 +0000 http://help.hackshackers.com/questions/basic-data-visualization-tools/#answer-868#comment-533 As one of the project leads I'm biased, but I think Exhibit is quite powerful and very easy to use. You don't need to install anything; it's just a javascript library. You serve up data in a file (csv, json, xml) or link to a google spreadsheet, then add "html" tags like , , , , to your page. Exhibit understands those tags and turns them into interactive visualization widgets. There's also a wordpress plugin, datapress, that lets you put visualizations into your blog posts. Several newspapers have tried it; I've put links to them at http://people.csail.mit.edu/karger/Exhibit/CAR/ As one of the project leads I’m biased, but I think Exhibit is quite powerful and very easy to use. You don’t need to install anything; it’s just a javascript library. You serve up data in a file (csv, json, xml) or link to a google spreadsheet, then add “html” tags like , , , , to your page. Exhibit understands those tags and turns them into interactive visualization widgets. There’s also a wordpress plugin, datapress, that lets you put visualizations into your blog posts. Several newspapers have tried it; I’ve put links to them at http://people.csail.mit.edu/karger/Exhibit/CAR/

]]> Comment on by How to get started in data journalism | digitaljournalist.mehttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/extracting-tables-from-a-pdf/#comment-532 How to get started in data journalism | digitaljournalist.me Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:54:10 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/extracting-tables-from-a-pdf/#answer-27#comment-532 [...] advises that “if you want to get serious about mashing up, you will need to explore the world of programming and APIs. At that point you may sit back and think: ‘Data journalism is [...] [...] advises that “if you want to get serious about mashing up, you will need to explore the world of programming and APIs. At that point you may sit back and think: ‘Data journalism is [...]

]]> Comment on by Chrys Wuhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/how-does-your-team-keep-track-of-passwords/#comment-383 Chrys Wu Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:09:02 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/how-does-your-team-keep-track-of-passwords/#answer-86#comment-383 Here's the link to <a href="http://keepass.info/" rel="nofollow">KeePass</a>. Here’s the link to KeePass.

]]> Comment on How to Create Big Photo Blog Like the Chicago Tribune by greggmorrishttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/how-to-create-big-photo-blog-like-the-chicago-tribune/#comment-380 greggmorris Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:48:08 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/how-to-create-big-photo-blog-like-the-chicago-tribune/#comment-380 Thanks for the suggestion: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/tribune-photo-nation/ and there is also the one at Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/ Any info about these blogs would be appreciated. Thanks for the suggestion: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/tribune-photo-nation/ and there is also the one at Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/ Any info about these blogs would be appreciated.

]]> Comment on by ryanpittshttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#comment-379 ryanpitts Thu, 26 May 2011 20:38:48 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#answer-682#comment-379 Yes, that's right. The Then & Now presentation just doesn't lend itself well to that size of screen. Yes, that’s right. The Then & Now presentation just doesn’t lend itself well to that size of screen.

]]> Comment on by ryanpittshttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#comment-378 ryanpitts Thu, 19 May 2011 19:51:27 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#answer-682#comment-378 Our goal is to give you what you expected when you clicked any link, and kicking you to the mobile homepage if a link fails gives you no idea whether what you're looking for is actually missing. And little recourse, in any case.If a link really *does* 404, though, we might as well give you the lighter-weight mobile version of that page. So that's the final fallback. Our goal is to give you what you expected when you clicked any link, and kicking you to the mobile homepage if a link fails gives you no idea whether what you’re looking for is actually missing. And little recourse, in any case.

If a link really *does* 404, though, we might as well give you the lighter-weight mobile version of that page. So that’s the final fallback.

]]> Comment on by ryanpittshttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#comment-377 ryanpitts Thu, 19 May 2011 19:44:32 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#answer-682#comment-377 Yep, that's right. Say you're browsing Facebook on your phone, and someone shared this story: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/19/spokane-river-rises-flood-stage/Our middleware checks for a mobile version, finds one at http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/19/spokane-river-rises-flood-stage/, and sends you right there.But say someone shared a link to this Then & Now gallery: http://www.spokesman.com/then-and-now/old-homes-spokane/Our middleware finds NO mobile version, so passes you through to the full desktop page since that's the link you wanted to see. Yep, that’s right. Say you’re browsing Facebook on your phone, and someone shared this story: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/19/spokane-river-rises-flood-stage/

Our middleware checks for a mobile version, finds one at http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/19/spokane-river-rises-flood-stage/, and sends you right there.

But say someone shared a link to this Then & Now gallery: http://www.spokesman.com/then-and-now/old-homes-spokane/

Our middleware finds NO mobile version, so passes you through to the full desktop page since that’s the link you wanted to see.

]]> Comment on by morisyhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#comment-530 morisy Thu, 19 May 2011 10:04:34 +0000 http://help.hackshackers.com/questions/tying-a-slideshow-and-a-map-together/#answer-963#comment-530 That's a really well done example, thanks for passing it along! That’s a really well done example, thanks for passing it along!

]]> Comment on by jonathaneyler-wervehttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/open-diversity-building-news-by-and-about-that-looks-more-like-all-of-us/#comment-376 jonathaneyler-werve Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:28:42 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/open-diversity-building-news-by-and-about-that-looks-more-like-all-of-us/#answer-534#comment-376 +1 to this: "It takes more work to find people outside one's usual circles, but it matters for one's credibility." That's the whole issue. +1 to this: “It takes more work to find people outside one’s usual circles, but it matters for one’s credibility.” That’s the whole issue.

]]> Comment on by jonathaneyler-wervehttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/open-diversity-building-news-by-and-about-that-looks-more-like-all-of-us/#comment-375 jonathaneyler-werve Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:26:55 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/open-diversity-building-news-by-and-about-that-looks-more-like-all-of-us/#answer-526#comment-375 Not to pick on you, but it's not like these unmentioned people don't exist. But you didn't get their stories. That's not a diversity problem, it's a journalism problem. Not to pick on you, but it’s not like these unmentioned people don’t exist. But you didn’t get their stories. That’s not a diversity problem, it’s a journalism problem.

]]> Comment on by jonathaneyler-wervehttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/what-should-the-knight-news-innovation-lab-focus-on-in-year-one/#comment-374 jonathaneyler-werve Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:10:08 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/what-should-the-knight-news-innovation-lab-focus-on-in-year-one/#answer-659#comment-374 I'm with you both.For the "new news" media, I think SUDO GET is too high a bar. Think community blogs, nonprofit organizations, ad hoc reporting networks. For them, it's usually a hosted Web application with impeccable usability and design, or nothing at all.To that point, I think the lab could contribute greatly by transitioning good platforms to really good products in a way that honors the contributions of the people who got them started. Ushahidi > Crowdmap. Wordpress.org > Wordpress.com. There are plenty of examples to choose from. I’m with you both.

For the “new news” media, I think SUDO GET is too high a bar. Think community blogs, nonprofit organizations, ad hoc reporting networks. For them, it’s usually a hosted Web application with impeccable usability and design, or nothing at all.

To that point, I think the lab could contribute greatly by transitioning good platforms to really good products in a way that honors the contributions of the people who got them started. Ushahidi > Crowdmap. WordPress.org > WordPress.com. There are plenty of examples to choose from.

]]> Comment on by shafqatislamhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/using-wire-content-for-topic-pages-without-a-seo-ding/#comment-373 shafqatislam Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:26:17 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/using-wire-content-for-topic-pages-without-a-seo-ding/#answer-657#comment-373 I do have a whitepaper that we use for our company that I can share. But I don't want to put a link here since it's part of our sales material it would take away from the spirit of this site (this forum is not meant to be a marketing/sales site!).If you email me (shafqat at newscred dot com), I'd be happy to send to you. I do have a whitepaper that we use for our company that I can share. But I don’t want to put a link here since it’s part of our sales material it would take away from the spirit of this site (this forum is not meant to be a marketing/sales site!).

If you email me (shafqat at newscred dot com), I’d be happy to send to you.

]]> Comment on by morisyhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/using-wire-content-for-topic-pages-without-a-seo-ding/#comment-372 morisy Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:22:11 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/using-wire-content-for-topic-pages-without-a-seo-ding/#answer-657#comment-372 Thanks! If you have any specific references or guide, it'd be fantastic, but this is really helpful. Thanks! If you have any specific references or guide, it’d be fantastic, but this is really helpful.

]]> Comment on by simonhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/jquery-multiple-form-validate-problems/#comment-371 simon Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:10:20 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/jquery-multiple-form-validate-problems/#answer-645#comment-371 thanks,,I also think of the points of ID or CSS class, but the case above was simplifed. Because I used for loop to generate a number of reply form, each has same ID.. if I generate different message ID, I may need to generate same no of validator.So I want to think of something different using jQuery. thanks,,I also think of the points of ID or CSS class, but the case above was simplifed. Because I used for loop to generate a number of reply form, each has same ID.. if I generate different message ID, I may need to generate same no of validator.

So I want to think of something different using jQuery.

]]> Comment on by greglinchhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/what-are-the-best-resources-for-journalists-without-coding-experience-to-get-their-feet-wet/#comment-529 greglinch Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:50:53 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/what-are-the-best-resources-for-journalists-without-coding-experience-to-get-their-feet-wet/#answer-639#comment-529 I've watched some of the Lynda.com JavaScript screencasts. In general, I prefer SitePoint's "Live" course approach, which involves a mix of screencasts, articles and discussion. You pay for the course instead of a monthly subscription, so you can access it whenever. Also, you get the code archive for free; Lynda requires a premium account for that, I think.The JavaScript Live course is only $10 and a good introduction:http://courses.sitepoint.com/javascript-liveOthers:http://bit.ly/fswRXX I’ve watched some of the Lynda.com JavaScript screencasts. In general, I prefer SitePoint’s “Live” course approach, which involves a mix of screencasts, articles and discussion. You pay for the course instead of a monthly subscription, so you can access it whenever. Also, you get the code archive for free; Lynda requires a premium account for that, I think.

The JavaScript Live course is only $10 and a good introduction:

http://courses.sitepoint.com/javascript-live

Others:

http://bit.ly/fswRXX

]]> Comment on Asking for help~~ please~~~~~ about email hack by adamplayfordhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/asking-for-help-please-about-email-hack/#comment-528 adamplayford Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:22:08 +0000 http://help.hackshackers.com/questions/asking-for-help-please-about-email-hack/#comment-528 Are you asking how to break into an e-mail account? If so, I think you've badly misunderstood the hacks/hackers pun... Are you asking how to break into an e-mail account? If so, I think you’ve badly misunderstood the hacks/hackers pun…

]]> Comment on by chrisamicohttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/whats-your-newsrooms-bus-factor/#comment-369 chrisamico Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:02:17 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/whats-your-newsrooms-bus-factor/#answer-635#comment-369 Mostly, yes. But it's also a matter of how much shared knowledge there is across teams and how divergent your skill sets are. Mostly, yes. But it’s also a matter of how much shared knowledge there is across teams and how divergent your skill sets are.

]]> Comment on by jheaslyhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/iframe-embedding-warnings-tips-and-tricks/#comment-368 jheasly Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:12:49 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/iframe-embedding-warnings-tips-and-tricks/#answer-631#comment-368 I'll send you a link of a JSONP response off-list. I’ll send you a link of a JSONP response off-list.

]]> Comment on by morisyhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/iframe-embedding-warnings-tips-and-tricks/#comment-367 morisy Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:34:51 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/iframe-embedding-warnings-tips-and-tricks/#answer-631#comment-367 Thanks! Would love to see some JSONP of your work when you have some live and kicking. Thanks! Would love to see some JSONP of your work when you have some live and kicking.

]]> Comment on by adamplayfordhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/semi-comprehensive-list-of-newsrooms-doing-news-applications/#comment-366 adamplayford Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:46:59 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/semi-comprehensive-list-of-newsrooms-doing-news-applications/#answer-610#comment-366 I've been thinking for a while that I'd love to see a database that had both journo/dev teams and also links to some of their projects. I went looking for one particular person's work a while ago (I'd heard good things) and couldn't find most of it. I know our (PBPost's) stuff isn't easy to track down either.I'm sure it'd be a pretty quick project, and I'd be happy to help anyone interested in doing that. I’ve been thinking for a while that I’d love to see a database that had both journo/dev teams and also links to some of their projects. I went looking for one particular person’s work a while ago (I’d heard good things) and couldn’t find most of it. I know our (PBPost’s) stuff isn’t easy to track down either.

I’m sure it’d be a pretty quick project, and I’d be happy to help anyone interested in doing that.

]]> Comment on by elizahttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/which-scripting-language-for-a-novice-who-wants-to-get-into-googlebing-mapping-apis/#comment-365 eliza Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:31:14 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/which-scripting-language-for-a-novice-who-wants-to-get-into-googlebing-mapping-apis/#answer-600#comment-365 Very helpful differentiation! Thank you! Very helpful differentiation! Thank you!

]]> Comment on How To Scan A Document And Then Edit It? by amandahttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/how-to-scan-a-document-and-then-edit-it/#comment-364 amanda Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:20:51 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/how-to-scan-a-document-and-then-edit-it/#comment-364 There is really not enough information in your question.If you can fill us in on what you're actually trying to do, folks here might be able to help. How far have you gotten on your own? Are you trying to change text on a single page? Fill in a form? add an annotation? Do you have the document scanned or do you need help scanning it as well? There is really not enough information in your question.

If you can fill us in on what you’re actually trying to do, folks here might be able to help. How far have you gotten on your own? Are you trying to change text on a single page? Fill in a form? add an annotation? Do you have the document scanned or do you need help scanning it as well?

]]> Comment on by jasonbartzhttp://help.hackshackers.com/questions/what-are-good-resources-for-finding-development-and-design-freelancers-particularly-people-with-news-experience/#comment-363 jasonbartz Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:00:01 +0000 http://help-test.hackshackers.com/questions/what-are-good-resources-for-finding-development-and-design-freelancers-particularly-people-with-news-experience/#answer-590#comment-363 Thanks for the thoughts. For now, I couldn't find someone in time so I'm just going to do it myself, but for future reference I'll consider giving some schools a ring. Thanks for the thoughts. For now, I couldn’t find someone in time so I’m just going to do it myself, but for future reference I’ll consider giving some schools a ring.

]]>