An Independent Study Exploring the Relationship Between Visually and Sensory-Stimulating Storytelling Components and Journalistic Documentation

 Nicole Cummings, mcnicole@vt.edu

Instructor: Jared Woolly, jmwoolly@vt.edu

Fall 2024

Introduction 

In an era where technology is at the forefront of all relevant innovation, convenience has taken precedence over design and quality. Now more than ever, it is paramount that a reader or consumer connect with a given story. Oxford NHS Foundation Trust’s presentation titled, “Sensory Processing, Children’s Community Occupational Therapy,” defines sensory processing as, “the ability to register, discriminate, adapt and respond appropriately, both physically and emotionally to sensory input from our bodies and the environment,” (Oxford NHS fund, 3). Referring to mediums for news and information consumption, digital media is the gold standard for connection and sensory-stimulating input, resulting in heightened societal expectations of sensory stimulation on a daily basis. This phenomenon caused a gradual decline in demand for print media. Furthermore, a general preference for engaging digital media implies that media publications must meet consumer demand by improving storytelling techniques with engaging stimuli and dynamic production quality. Thus, storytelling expertise and sensory stimulation input is now the crux of the ever-evolving journalism industry. Storytelling becoming the essence of engaging journalism means that digital media and sensory stimulation input is now, consequently, the key to an undisputed hard-hitting piece of journalism. 

What About Print Media? 

Moreover, prior to the boom in access to digital media and technology, print media was the number one medium delivering access to news and information. In a February 2023 journal entry for the University of Chicago’s Becker Friedman Institute titled, “How the Internet changed the market for Print Media,” Jeremy McCauler, Manudeep Bhuller, Tarjei Havnes and Magne Mogstad address the economic effects of mass adoption of digital media on print media publications. “Household adoption of broadband internet triggered large reductions in print readership and circulation and equally large increases in online news readership. Despite strong substitution from print to online news consumption, newspaper firms’ revenue fell by almost 30%,” (Bhuller, Havnes, McCauley and Mogstad, ix). In a 2020 journal entry for the University of California’s Undergraduate Research Journal, titled, “Which is more reliable, Print or Digital Media,” Emanuel Gutierrez, Miriam Martinez and Mityah Myrick attribute the preference for digital media to convenience, and accessibility. “There is much to be said about print vs. online media, however, online media does have a lot of advantages to it. First of all, information transmission is faster than ever. We as a society can get almost all information on anything as quickly as a few seconds (Alyshia Kisor-Madlem, 2016),” (Gutierrez, Martinez and Myrick, 4).

Though there is much evidence in support of a general preference for digital media, some researchers argue that print still triumphs over digital media for a lot of readers. Massimo Barsotti, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Product Officer for the International News Media Association argues this in his July 2024 article titled, “Despite move toward Digital Formats, the Power of Print endures.” “According to the Press Gazette, “In the U.K., 54% of people now prefer reading news content online than in print newspapers– and the preference is even stronger in the U.S. where it is 60%.” When it comes to magazines, however, the reverse is true: the printed layout is generally preferred. Research shows these preferences are, in part, due to print-format features that digital formats are not always able to emulate. This fact, and the cost savings due to emerging AI-driven layout automation, could give the printed newspaper a new lease on life,” (Barsotti, 1).

 Stacy Rosenburg addresses the results of grouping television into the sphere of digital media, and how this affects the statistics about general attitudes towards print media in her March 2019 report titled, “Nearly as many Americans prefer to get their local news online as prefer the TV set,” for the Pew Research Center. “Specifically, when asked which pathways they prefer to use for local news – the television set, the internet (either through social media or websites/apps), print or radio – nearly the same portion of U.S. adults say they prefer an online method (37% total, including 23% who favor news websites or apps and 15% who name social media) as say they prefer television (41%). Far fewer prefer print newspapers (13%) or radio (8%),” (Rosenburg, 2). Furthermore, when grouping television with online media, the overarching takeaway is that people are gravitating towards a news format where sensory stimulation is at the center.

Storytelling vs. Journalism

Given the ease of access to technology and public forums, it is important to define real journalism. In her 2023 book titled,“Handbook of Independent Journalism,” Deborah Potter, a seasoned, accredited journalist who spent 16 years corresponding for both CNN and CBS, defines journalism and calls attention to the importance of truth in the current time period. “New technologies have made it possible for anyone with a computer to disseminate information as widely as the largest news organizations. But a well-designed Internet site, no matter how well it’s written or how often it’s updated, is not necessarily a reliable source of news. The truth is that in a complex world where information is no longer a scarce commodity, the role of the journalist has become more important than ever. Unlike a propagandist or a gossip, the journalist sorts through the information available and determines how much of it is valuable and reliable before passing it on to the public. News stories, whether hard news or features, must be accurate,” (Potter, 8). Moreover, in his 2008 article for the Asian Development Bank titled, “Storytelling,” Doctor of Philosophy and action theorist, Oliver Serrat, defines storytelling from an emotional perspective. “Storytelling is the vivid description of ideas, beliefs, personal experiences, and life-lessons through stories or narratives that evoke powerful emotions and insights,” (Serrat, 1). If truth is the cornerstone of journalism, and storytelling combines emotions and personal experiences, then storytelling through the medium of journalism creates a memorable artform of communication which merges the power of personal connection with the importance of relaying the truth. 

Sensory Stimulation and Journalism/Conclusion

When considering the value of connection with a given news story, a general yearning for consistent sensory stimulation in information delivery is paramount to a viable piece of journalism. Dr. Rajnesh Kyr. Yadov discusses the value of sensory stimulation in the form of visual media in his journal entry titled, “Visual Media”, for the Department of Social Work at the University of Lucknow. “Visual Media can be a very powerful tool…Words and images presented in different formats can appeal directly to your audience’s imagination, adding power to your words,” (Yadov, 2). Xin Huang, Xiang Li and Jianling Yao reiterate this sentiment in their 2023 research article for the Peninsula titled, “Investigating the Role of Visual Storytelling in Enhancing Audience Engagement in Digital Journalism.” “The power of visuals– whether through images, video, infographics, or interactive graphics– has been shown to increase audience engagement with content, improve retention, and enhance… deep emotional response,” (Huang, Li and Yao, 1). They continue, mentioning that audience engagement is crucial to a media publication’s success for the foreseeable future. “In the digital age, news organizations must compete for the attention of the audiences who are constantly bombarded with content from multiple sources. As a result, audience engagement has become a top priority for digital media and news organizations. Audience engagement is now considered an important metric for success in digital media,” (Huang, Li and Yao, 1). 

Given the state of media today, there is no avoiding the prevalence of truly impactful journalism. Today, impactful journalism is journalism that connects with the audience, engages their senses, and is reliable. In order to remain successful, news organizations and media publications alike must adapt to account for the quality of engaging storytelling techniques; both in digital written media and in visual/auditory media. This phenomenon only solidifies the gradual decline in demand for print media, but does not terminate the power of print news. Furthermore, the focus on a desire for sensory stimulation, means storytelling has now become the cornerstone of a powerful and impactful piece of journalism. 

Mini Documentary

With technology at the forefront of media, sensory stimulation has taken precedence over handheld print media as a means of receiving information. How does this affect print media publications? How does sensory stimulation relate to journalism? Does a focus on sensory stimulation mean a concentration on storytelling techniques? Sensory Stimulation, Storytelling and Journalism.