=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1734/fmt-proceedings-2016-paper7
|storemode=property
|title=Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1734/fmt-proceedings-2016-paper7.pdf
|volume=Vol-1734
|authors=Sandra Zwinger,Michael Zeiller
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/fmt/ZwingerZ16
}}
==Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1734/fmt-proceedings-2016-paper7.pdf
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
Sandra Zwinger Michael Zeiller
University of Applied Sciences Burgenland University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
Eisenstadt, Austria Eisenstadt, Austria
sandra.zwinger@live.at michael.zeiller@fh-burgenland.at
illustrate a point made in a story in a more compelling
way, to remove unnecessary technical information from
prose and to provide transparency about the reporting
Abstract process to readers (especially interactive visualizations
Interactive infographics are increasingly used that allow exploration) [GBC12].
in online journalism. Especially in data-driven Information visualization is the use of interactive
journalism they provide a powerful tool to visual representations of abstract data to amplify
represent and communicate complex cognition [Che10] [War12]. Information visualization in
information. On the basis of a content analysis online media like online newspapers or online
of five German-speaking online newspapers magazines can be interactive, i.e., it provides users with
we show which kinds of interactive at least one option to control which and how much
visualizations are preferred in German- information shall be shown. Shneiderman [Shn96]
speaking online media. However, users are still proposed key principles for the success of information
unfamiliar with interactive infographics. The visualization that are based on his Visual Information-
results of a user survey demonstrate how Seeking Mantra: Overview first, zoom and filter, then
readers of online newspapers use interactive details-on-demand. Since then several types of
infographics. These results point out how users interactivity have emerged. Information visualization
interact with interactive infographics and how provides several types of information graphics, e.g.,
they assess the availability and findability of functional infographics, cartographical graphics or
interactive infographics in online newspapers. visualization of statistical data, that can be enhanced
with interactive elements.
Journalists tell stories based on their investigations.
1. Introduction Data visualization is an appropriate communication
Data-driven journalism (short: DDJ) collects, evaluates, medium for storytelling, in particular when the story
interprets and presents large amounts of data. In an also contains a lot of data [KM13]. However, these data
innovative and unique way data-driven journalism stories told by data journalists differ from traditional
explains new insights and clarifies facts while telling forms of storytelling [SH10]. An emerging number of
complex stories on the basis of large amounts of stories is enhanced with narratives including complex
retrieved data [Mat16] [GBC12]. Lorenz [Lor10] graphics and especially interactive graphics. Like the
defines data-driven journalism as a workflow, where pioneers of data-driven journalism using interactive
data is the basis for analysis, visualization and – most visualizations from Anglo-Saxon countries (e.g., The
importantly – storytelling. The growth potential of data- Guardian, The New York Times) the increasing number
driven journalism is vast and according to Weinacht und of data-driven journalistic projects in German-speaking
Spiller [WS14] it is one of the big issues in specialist countries use various visualizations with different
publications on journalism and in education of options of interaction.
journalists in Germany. In this paper, we investigate which kinds of
Data-driven journalism can help a journalist to tell a interactive infographics are used in data-driven
complex story through engaging information graphics journalism in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to
[GBC12] [WR13]. In the reporting phase, visualizations effectively present complex data and causal
can help journalists to identify themes and questions, to relationships. A content analysis is applied to five
identify outliers or to find typical examples. In examples of German-speaking online newspapers. The
publishing, visualizations play multiple roles, e.g., to interactive infographics that have been published in
2014 and 2015 are analyzed.
Copyright © by the paper’s authors. Copying permitted only for private
and academic purposes.
Although interactive infographics are increasingly
used in online media, readers really have to view them
In: W. Aigner, G. Schmiedl, K. Blumenstein, M. Zeppelzauer (eds.): and use the control tools. First, readers have to identify
Proceedings of the 9th Forum Media Technology 2016, St. Pölten,
Austria, 24-11-2016, published at http://ceur-ws.org
54
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
interactive infographics as such and the control tools graphics, structure graphics and process graphics
have to be recognized intuitively. Thus, we investigate (Figure 2). [JS99]
how readers of online newspapers assess the availability
and findability of interactive infographics and which
types of interaction they utilize.
2 Interactive Infographics
Information graphics (short: infographics) combine
graphics, image and text to communicate information,
data or knowledge effectively using graphic visual Figure 2: Fact graphics (left) und process graphics
representations [Ale13] [Yau11] [Yau13]. Infographics (right) (Source: [JS99])
aim at providing the percipient with new insights and a
quick overview on complex facts on subjects like The cartographic infographics (map) conveys space-
politics, science, technology, and nature that are hard to oriented information in a clearly arranged, simple and
understand just using text-based information. They shall understandable way that provides orientation. This type
communicate complex issues efficiently and draw the consists of event space map, topic map and weather
attention of percipients to them. However, there is a map. [JS99]
continuous debate over visual embellishment, i.e., Statistics charts help to illustrate quantities and
adding unnecessary visual embellishment – chart junk – compare them, especially large, complex sets of
versus a minimalistic approach using plain and simple numbers and relations. This type consists of pie chart,
charts [BMG+10]. Like the data-ink ratio for bar chart, curve chart, area diagram, scatter plot, Sankey
noninteractive infographics proposed by Tufte [Tuf01] diagram and radar chart (Figure 3). [JS99] [Sta13]
to reduce chart junk, interactive infographics have to
apply interactivity purposeful.
2.1 Types of Infographics
Infographics can be categorized in three basic types
(Figure 1): [JS99] [Sta13]
• Principle representation
• Cartographic infographics
• Statistics chart
Figure 3: Bubble graph (scatter plot, left, Source:
www.nytimes.com) and Sankey diagram (right,
Source: www.ensbirasjon.blogspot.dk)
2.2 Interactions in Infographics
Many technical systems offer interactive performance.
However, the interactive elements have to be recognized
and utilized by users. This level of action is made up of
a control dimension and a transmission dimension that
allows the system to react on user input. The control
dimension ist subdivided in options for selection
(selection of existing content, e.g., click on a hyperlink)
Figure 1: Three types of infographics (Source: [JS99]) and options for modification (change of system range by
input; e.g., input of text) [QS06].
The principle representation – also denoted as functional There exist several methods of interaction to
graphics – covers What and How questions and manipulate a visual representation, like scrolling,
describes complex causal relationships in real or abstract
form. Principle representations are subdivided in fact
55
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
overview plus detail, or focus plus context, filtering or
data reordering [Maz09].
Weber and Wenzel [WW13] define interactive
infographics as being a visual representation of
information that integrates several modes (at least two),
e.g., image/video, spoken or written text, audio, layout,
etc. (image mode is constitutive), to a coherent ensemble
that offers at least one option of control to the user. The
provided option of control can be, e.g.,
• Start or Stop button
• Forward or backward button
• Menu item to select
• Timeline or time controller
• Filter, data request or input box
2.3 Classification of Interactive Infographics Figure 4: Infographics showing German House of
While evaluating interactive infographics we analyze Parliament with high interactivity
five features which cover interaction as well as narrative (Source: www.spiegel.de, [WW13])
issues: degreee of interactivity, course of action,
communicative intent, “W-questions” and topic. We 2.3.2 Course of Action
follow a typology introduced by Weber and Wenzel
Weber and Wenzel [Web13] [WW13] distinguish three
[WW13] and Weber [Web13]. Other features like genre
types of course of action:
or visual narrative as in [SH10] might be applied as
well, but have not been included. • Linear
• Nonlinear
2.3.1 Degree of Interactivity • Linear-nonlinear
Weber and Wenzel [WW13] distinguish three degrees Linear interactivity enables the user to move (forward or
of interactivity: backward) through a predetermined linear sequence
• Low interactivity [Sim97]. The linear type is based on a step-by-step
• Medium interactivity course defined by the author (i.e., author-driven
• High interactivity [SH10]). The user follows a strict path and does not have
to explore the visualization by himself. Navigation tools
A low level of interactivity allows users to navigate like Start, Stop, Forward, Backward or Next are used to
within the infographics and select content, e.g., by using navigate in a liner course. A navigation bar provides a
internal links, zooming, mouseover effects for showing better overview on the whole sequence. [Web13]
details, Next or Start buttons, but without changing the A nonlinear visualization does not provide a
infographics. On a medium level of interactivity users prescribed ordering and requires a high degree of
can manipulate the infographics, e.g., by a timeline interactivity by the user [Rya06] – its narrative being
slider or menu items, thus showing changes and reader-driven [SH10]. Nonlinear-based interactive
comparing information. A high level of interactivity infographics provide the user with many ways to explore
enables users to explore the infographics and to interact and query the visualization – including free exploration
with data and information, e.g., by inputs, filtering or without predefined navigation paths. Navigation tools
data retrieval (Figure 4). for nonlinear infographics include filter, input box, data
We analyze only the degree of interactivity, but do query or brushing (various visual representations of
not identify the ways of manipulation as in [SH10], like same data). [Web13]
hover highlighting and details, filtering and selection, The linear-nonlinear type results from a hybridization
search or navigation buttons. of the linear and nonlinear course of action. This type is
a hybrid of the author-driven and reader-driven
approach [SH10] that enables the author to
communicate his message using a predefined path, but
56
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
still allowing the user a certain amount of selection 3 Analysis of Utilization of Interactive
ability. Navigation tools for linear-nonlinear
infographics include interactive timelines, time
Infographics in German-speaking Online
controller, and integrated navigation menu. [Web13] Newspapers
Interactive infographics have various occurrences and
2.3.3 Communicative Intent are used for multiple purposes. However, not all types
Based on Nichani und Rajamanickam’s taxonomy of interactive infographics can be utilized in data-driven
[NR03] we use the following categories to represent the journalism. In this section we analyze which interactive
communicative intent oft interactive infographics: infographics are used in data-driven journalism in
Germany, Austria and Switzerland to efficiently present
• Narratives: Stories told from a distinct point of view
complex data and their causal relationships. [Zwi16a]
(e.g., anecdotes, personal stories, business stories,
case studies).
3.1 Method
• Instructives: Step-by-step instructions explaining
how things work or how events occur. The analysis of interactive infographics of selected
• Exploratives: Allow readers to discover the intent online newspapers is based on evaluation research. The
themselves by active exploring and sensemaking. object of the evaluation – the interactive infographics –
• Simulatives: Allow readers to experience the intent is assessed according to predefined goals and specified
(usually a real world phenomena) themselves. criteria. [GJ14] [SM14]
To represent the German-speaking online
newspapers we selected five newspapers from Germany,
2.3.4 W-Questions
Austria and Switzerland that are published in print and
In addition to the communicative intent [NR03] the online: „Zeit Online“, „Berliner Morgenpost“, „Neue
communicative function can be derived using an Zürcher Zeitung“, „Der Standard“ und „Kurier”. The
extended version of the journalistic W-questions objects to be evaluated are the interactive infographics
[Web13] [Roa09]: that had been published between January 1, 2014 and
• What/Who December 31, 2015 in the newspapers’ online portals.
• When A total of 276 interactive infographics have been
• Where identified and subsequently analyzed: Zeit Online 36,
Berliner Morgenpost 54, Neue Zürcher Zeitung 89, Der
• How
Standard 60, and Kurier 37 infographics.
• Why Based on the typology and classification introduced
• How much in section 2 a list of criteria is defined. The type of
infographics is classified on a nominal scale (scale
2.3.5 Topic values A-M and A-E respectively) (Table 1). The
Following the news departments of a newspaper/ classification criteria are assessed using an ordinal scale
magazine that classify a newspaper article we classify with varying degree (Table 2).
the topic of the interactive infographics:
• Politics/Economics 3.2 Results
• Accidents/Natural disaster
3.2.1 Example: Zeit Online
• Consumption
• Sports As an example, we present the results of the evaluation
• Science/Society of interactive infographics that have been published by
• Crime „Zeit Online” [Zwi16a]. The other newspapers, i.e.,
• Others „Berliner Morgenpost“, „Neue Zürcher Zeitung“, „Der
Standard“ und „Kurier”, have been evaluated in the
same way.
57
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
Table 1: Scale values for type Table 2: Criteria for classification
Criterion Value Criterion Value
Definitely a single type of infographics: 0: Low interactivity (internal links, zooming,
0: no, 1: yes
interactivity
mouseover, Next button)
Degree of
If type is 1Þ Single type: 1: Medium interactivity (menu items, timeline
A: Fact graphics (view, magnifier, section) slider)
B: Structure graphics (building plan, text image) 2: High interactivity (filter, input box,
C: Process graphics (overall view, sequence) brushing)
D: Event space map
0: Linear (step-by-step; Forward, Backward or
Course of action
E: Topic map
Type of infographics
F: Weather map Next )
G: Pie chart 1: Nonlinear (filter, input box, data query,
H: Bar chart brushing)
I: Curve chart, area diagram 2: Linear-nonlinear (interactive timeline, time
J: Scatter plot, bubble graph controller, integrated navigation menu)
K: Sankey diagram
L: Radar chart 0: Narratives
Communi-
cative
intent
M: Other 1: Instructives
If type is 0 Þ Hybrid type: 2: Exploratives
A: Principle representation with cartographic IG 3: Simulatives
B: Principle representation with statistics chart
0: What/Who
C: Cartographic infographics with statistics chart
W-Questions
1: When
D: Mixed statistics chart
2: Where
E: Other
3: How
4: Why
We identified 36 interactive infographics that have been 5: How much
published during the period of investigation by “Zeit
Online”. 27 of them are single type infographics, and 9 0: Politics/Economics
are hybrid infographics. The single type infographics are 1: Accidents/Natural disaster
made up of seven topic maps, four bar charts, four curve 2: Consumption
Topic
charts, three event space maps, two fact graphics and 3: Sports
4: Science/Society
one process graphics; the remaining six infographics are
5: Crime
of type Other. The nine hybrid infographics consist of 6: Others
three cartographic infographics with statistics chart, two
principle representation with statistics chart, two mixed
statistics charts and two infographics of type Other.
“Zeit Online” published 18 interactive infographics
with a low degree of interactivity, 13 infographics with
medium interactivity and 5 infographics with high
interactivity. In category Course of action 6
infographics were linear, 25 infographics were nonlinear
and 5 of the combined type linear-nonlinear. Analyzing
the communicative intent shows 21 infographics of type
Exploratives, 10 infographics of type Instructives, 3 of
type Simulatives and 2 of type Narrratives.
Most infographics have been published relating to
topics in science and society: 19 infographics in total. 6
infographics cover politics and economics, 5 deal with
sports, 5 deal with consumption and one infographics is
on crime (Figure 5). Figure 5: Results „Zeit Online“ (Source: [Zwi16a])
58
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
3.2.2 Using Interactive Infographics
The unrepresentative evaluation research analyzed 276
interactive infographics in five selected online
newspapers (period: January 1, 2014 until December 31,
2015) showing that in German-speaking data-driven 18%
Low
journalism typically interactive infographics are used
that belong to single type infographics (77.54 % vs. 43% Medium
22.46 % of hybrid type). Most commonly used are bar
charts (23.83 %) and curve charts/area diagrams (18.69 High
%). Topic maps are used at a percentage of 17.76 % and 39%
event space maps are used at a percentage of 12.15 %.
Rarely used are structure graphics (2.34 %), pie charts
(1.87 %), Sankey diagrams (1.87 %), process graphics
(1.40 %) and fact graphics (1.40 %) (Figure 6).
Figure 7: Degree of interactivity (Source: [Zwi16a])
Bar charts 23.83%
Curve charts 18.69%
Topic maps 17.76%
Event space maps 12.15% 11%
14%
Structure graphics 2.34%
Pie charts 1.87% Linear
Sankey diagrams 1.87%
Nonlinear
Process graphics 1.40%
Fact graphics 1.40% Linear-
Radar charts 0.47% nonlinear
75%
Others 18.22%
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00%
Figure 6: Use of single type infographics
(Source: [Zwi16a]) Figure 8: Course of action (Source: [Zwi16a])
The majority of interactive infographics, i.e., 43.11 %,
shows a low degree of interactivity. 38.77 % of the
analyzed infographics have a medium degree of 5%
3%
interactivity, whereas only 18.12 % of the analyzed
infographics offer a high degree of interactivity (Figure
7). 21% Narratives
The vast majority of published interactive Instructives
infographics exhibits a nonlinear course of action. 75.0 Exploratives
% are nonlinear infographics, whereas 13.77 % of the
infographics are identified as belonging to the linear- Simulatives
71%
nonlinear type. Only 11.23 % of the analyzed
infographics have a linear course of action (Figure 8).
The evaluation of the communicative intent depicts
that Exploratives are used most at a ratio of 70.65 %. We
identified 21.02 % Instructives. Narratives (5.07 %) and
Simulatives are seldom used (Figure 9). Figure 9: Communicative intent (Source: [Zwi16a])
59
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
Interactive infographics are most frequently used in 4.1 Method
online newspapers to illustrate information on the topic
science and society with 46.01 % of all occurrences. To determine the opinion of readers of online
34.06 % of the analyzed infographics cover issues on newspapers a quantitative research approach has been
politics and economics. 10.51 % cover sports, 6.16 % chosen [BB14]. Since the target group is very familiar
crime and 2.54 % consumption. Accidents and natural with online tools we chose to conduct a
disaster are seldom discussed with the help of nonrepresentative online survey [WH14]. The online
infographics (0.36 %). Another 0.36% could not be survey was made up of 24 questions that included closed
assigned clearly and were labeled as Other (Figure 10). questions (single choice, multiple choice questions) as
well as matrix questions with different evaluation scales.
[MG14]
Only readers of online newspapers have been
Politics/Economics surveyed. Persons that got access to the survey, but do
6% not read online newspapers were identified at the
Accidents/
beginning using a knockout question. The survey was
0% Natural disaster
Consumption published in the off-topic forum of the Austrian
34% newspaper “DerStandard”, on the Facebook page of the
Sports Austrian newspaper “Kurier”, and additionally on the
46% Facebook account of one of the authors and among
0% Science/Society students of the University of Applied Sciences
Burgenland [Zwi16b]. Survey period: June and July
3% Crime 2016.
11%
259 persons participated in the survey. Due to the
Others research design primarily Austrian readers of German-
speaking online newspapers have been surveyed. 215
Figure 10: Topics (Source: [Zwi16a]) persons (83.01 %) answered the preceding knockout
question positive and were identified as readers of
4 Utilization of Interactive Infographics by online newspapers. The following outcome of the
survey refers to this group.
Readers
During the evaluation research process it turned out that 4.2 Results
interactive infographics are hard to identify in online
86.98 % of the respondents (187 persons of 215)
newspapers. In particular, it was difficult to find
deliberately view interactive infographics. Asked for the
infographics in the two Austrian online newspapers.
reasons of using those infographics they name the well-
Most newspapers have no dedicated sections
known advantages of infographics like illustration of all
aggregating interactive infographics and even the
relevant numbers/facts (77.54 %), a clearly structured
integrated search function often failed.
overview (63.64 %) or good memorability due to the
In this chapter we analyze how Austrian readers of
combination of text and image (51.34 %). Table 3 shows
online newspapers assess the availability and findability
the results of this question (multiple references
of interactive infographics and how they use the
possible).
facilities for interaction. Our goal is the demonstration
The respondents could rate on a five-point Likert
that readers of online newspapers search purposeful for
scale (“very intensive” to “less intensive”) how
interactive infographics or just use them by pure chance.
intensively they use the offered facilities to interact with
We examine how laborious and time-consuming readers
the infographics. More than half of the persons
estimate searching for infographics. The intensity of the
questioned use them “moderately intensive” (54.01 %,
use of infographics and the frequency of the utilization
101 persons). The infographics are “very intensively”
of the individual facilities for interaction are determined.
used by only 6.42 % respondents (12 persons). 25.13 %
(47 persons) used them “intensively”. The option “rather
less intensive” has been named by 13 persons (6.95 %)
and there are 14 users who use the infographics “less
intensive” (Fig. 11).
60
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
Table 3: Reasons for using interactive infographics The respondents have been asked whether those control
(Source: [Zwi16b]) functions are sufficiently recognizable and easy to
identify. Only 2.67 % of the respondents (5 persons)
Answer option Percentage # consider the control tools as “very well recognizable”.
Illustration of all relevant numbers/ facts 77.54 % 145 33.16 % (62 persons) consider them as “good
Clearly structured overview put into 63.64 % 119 recognizable” and the majority of 37.97 % (71
graphs respondents) consider the control tools as “moderately
Good memorability due to the 51.34 % 96 recognizable”. 20.32 % respondents (38 persons) have
combination of text and image not been satisfied with the visibility of the control tools
Relevant information can be filtered and 34.22 % 64 and graded them as “poorly recognizable”. One
visualized respondent (0.53 %) did not find the control tools and
Easy search for data/information 26.74 % 50 answered “not recognizable” (10 persons, i.e., 5.35 %,
Do not like to read long text 21.93 % 41 did not specify) (Fig. 12). Obviously there is need for
Offers to view data/information in various 16.04 % 30 action.
representations
Other 1.60% 3
5.35%
2.67% 33.16% 37.97% 20.32%
0.53%
6.95%
6.42% 25.13% 54.01%
7.49% Very well recognizable
Good recognizable
Moderately recognizable
Very intensive Intensive
Moderately intensive Rather less intensive Figure 12: Perceptibility of control tools
Less intensive (Source: [Zwi16b])
Figure 11: Intensity of using the facilities of interaction Only 24.06 % of the respondents (45 persons) indicated
(Source: [Zwi16b]) that they actively search for interactive infographics in
online newspapers. These persons would see a big
Interactive infographics offer different functions to advantage if online newspapers mark or label interactive
control the graphics. Table 4 presents how frequently (or infographics or offer easy access using dedicated menu
seldom) users apply those control tools. items. 75.94 % (142 respondents) do not search actively
for articles that contain interactive infographics.
Table 4: Frequency of use of control tools However, a majority of three-quarters of those
respondents (n=142; i.e., 106 persons) mentioned that
Very
Frequen Occasio
they would use infographics more often, if they would
n=187 frequent Seldom Never be easier to find.
tly nally
ly
53.48 % respondents of the survey quoted that they
Start, Stop 11,23 % 25,67 % 35,83 % 22,46 % 4,81 %
button 21 48 67 42 9
think that currently most interactive infographics deal
with politics. 24.60 % respondents indicated that most
Forward,
Backword
10,70 % 29,95 % 39,57 % 18,18 % 1,60 % interactive infographics are about economics. The
20 56 74 34 3
button respondents would prefer if more interactive
Navigation bar 26,20 % 46,52 % 19,25 % 6,42 % 1,60 % infographics are published concerning science (24.60
(menu) 49 87 36 12 3 %), economics (22.99 %), consumption (10.70 %),
Filter
20,86 % 36,36 % 26,74 % 13,37 % 2,67 % crime (9.63 %) and politics (8.56 %) (remark: only
39 68 50 25 5 single response allowed). However, 73.26 % of the
Timeline slider
9,09 % 25,13 % 37,97 % 21,93 % 5,88 % respondents of the survey would appreciate an
17 47 71 41 11
increasing offering of interactive infographics in online
Input box
3,21 % 18,18 % 35,29 % 32,09 % 11,23% newspapers.
6 34 66 60 21
61
Interactive Infographics in German Online Newspapers
5 Conclusion amounts of data. Frequently, visualizations are used to
present these data in online reporting. Online media
The evaluation of interactive infographics that have allow to design those infographics interactively. Users
been published in the years 2014 and 2015 in five can determine by themselves which and how many
selected German-speaking online newspapers shows information shall be shown. For example, interactive
inhomogeneous and diverse results. The analyzed infographics with nonlinear course of action provide a
infographics depict that data-driven journalism in high degree of interactivity up to free exploration
German, Austria and Switzerland typically makes use of without predefined navigation paths.
infographics that belong to a single type (77.54 %). Most Based on the evaluation of 276 interactive
commonly used are bar charts at a percentage of 23.83 infographics that have been published in 2014 and 2015
%. Often single type infographics are combined to in five German-speaking online newspapers we
hybrid forms that are used at a percentage of 22.46 %. demonstrated which types of visualization are used in
Most examples of those hybrid forms (53.23 %) are data-driven journalism in Germany, Austria and
cartographic infographics with statistics chart. Switzerland. The evaluation research shows a large
The majority of interactive visualizations only have a variety of used types of infographics. At the same time,
low degree of interactivity (43.11 %). Users can we recognize a great potential for improvement when
manipulate the infographics easily, e.g., by using Next applying those infographics in data-driven journalism.
or Start buttons or mouseover effects for showing In particular, the degree of interactivity can be improved
additional information. Only a small percentage of 18.12 to facilitate even more flexibility when exploring those
% of the analyzed infographics offer a high degree of infographics.
interactivity and allow users to interact with the help of From the point of view of readers of online
input boxes, data retrieval or filtering. newspapers we identified potential for improvement
Three-quarters of the analyzed infographics have a concerning the findability or recognizability of
nonlinear course of action. They offer several options to interactive infographics. Additionally, various control
explore and manipulate the infographics. By means of tools for the manipulation of infographics are available,
navigation tools like input box, filter, menu item or but they are used only to a limited extend due to the fact
mouseover effects the requested information can be that they cannot be identified conveniently. Therefore,
displayed. improvements in the usability of interactive
The survey of readers of German-speaking online infographics might increase the utilization of
newspapers demonstrates that the offering of interactive infographics. Usability issues have not been investigated
infographics is highly accepted. However, it is often in the present analysis, but further research should
hard to recognize that a graphics is an interactive examine the usability of interactive infographics in data-
infographics with corresponding control tools. driven journalism.
Consequently, those control tools are only moderately or
seldom used. There is potential for improvement to
identify controls for interactivity more clearly and thus
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