Using ASFs Online 'Assists Story Recall'

Readers are more likely to understand complex stories online if they are presented using alternative story forms (ASFs), according to a new PoynterOnline article.

Studies conducted by the institute revealed that readers tend to find it easier to remember web-based stories which use visual graphics to illustrate facts and figures as opposed to those which adopt traditional narrative structures.

Among the tools used by researchers were question and answer forms, timelines, numbered lists and fact boxes to provide readers with explanatory or supplementary information.

Sara Quinn from the Poynter Institute writes: “Alternative story forms seem to work best with fact-laden stories, providing a way to handle numbers, time, location and juxtaposition references in a simple, comparative way.”

Quinn adds: “To choose the form that works best for the story and for the reader, newsrooms need to get daily conversations going with people at all points in the writing and editing process.”

The full version of this story can be found at PoynterOnline.