MARY GABLE

Finally, a digital media trend I can really get excited about. Last year, you probably saw The New York Times’ “Snowfall”—an interactive-multimedia-feature-story-presentation…thing. I’m not sure what projects like these are even called yet, but they’re seriously cool. (If you haven’t seen “Snowfall” yet, check it out here.)

Basically, these creations tell a story—with words, yes, but also animation, photography, video clips, infographics—and everything in between. Simply scroll, and watch a tale unfold. Images and quotes float alongside body text, while embedded videos spring to life when triggered by a click.

What I like about this format is that it celebrates longform writing. It’s visual, but not overwhelmingly so; color and movement fix your gaze, but it’s the story that keeps you scrolling. To me, these projects do exactly what great writing is supposed to do: make the reader forget the world and lose himself, if only for a few minutes, in your words.

It’s a format I hope we’ll be seeing more of soon—and I don’t think I’ll be waiting long. A few weeks back, Mediabistro’s 10,000 Words blog posted a collection of “10 ‘Snowfall’-Like Projects that Break out of Standard Article Templates.” I especially liked ESPN’s “The Long, Strange Trip of Dock Ellis” and Pitchfork’s “Glitter in the Dark” (screenshot above).

Projects like these have so much potential—for ad campaigns, product launches, fundraisers, and more. I can’t wait to see where they take us next. Until then, scroll away.