Infographics in Digital Journalism

Abstract

Digital infographics appeared at the end of the twentieth century, within the context of information technology, and has become one of the most important forms of informative and documentary presentations. The tremendous communicative leap that cyber-media has implied has not been lower than one of its fundamental products: digital infographics.

Nonetheless, it cannot be properly developed in a period of transition because it is neither fully recognized, nor devised with communicative criteria, neither readers are able to easily access to it nor a leading role is given in the media.

The computer graphics professionals, often brought up at art schools, are faced with the dilemma of elaborating precise communicative products, while sacrificing beauty or other forms of aesthetic expression. For this reason their training must be multiple as they are before a very complex profession.

Digital infographics could stand out, precisely for its kinetic possibilities, as one of the best ways to show or recount the present time. In fact, it allows descriptive thematic, narrative or even interpretative presentations, without any more limitations than the ones proper of large audiovisual media.

All seems to indicate that it has not still come of age, and despite its youth, it is on the way to becoming an important way of presentation or even an informative gender with proper characteristics, as is being recognised by readers.