NPR, National Geographic Draw Closer Online

National Geographic and National Public Radio are kindred spirits. Both are Washington-based nonprofit media outlets with fiercely loyal audiences. But historically, National Geographic’s monthly magazine and a NPR’s radio programs have been such distinct products that overlap was rare. (One insane, low-tech reason: It’s hard to record a radio story with a photographer in tow, due to shutter noise.)

Now, old walls are crumbling. The convergence brought on by the Internet means both National Geographic and NPR are suddenly in the same business: Multimedia storytelling.

Last night at a panel organized as part of FotoWeekDC, photographers and editors from both organizations talked about how they use digital storytelling to serve their audiences. It sounded like they were all speaking the same language.

Incredible as it seems, National Public Radio has a photo staff. NPR.org began expanding into original photography about two years ago, and today has two staff photographers, John Poole and David Gilke.

NPR multimedia director Keith Jenkins, a former Washington Post photo editor, said he was brought on to give NPR a distinct look, just as it has its distinct sound. The photo stories on NPR.org aim to give the audience something unexpected, and resemble magazine photo essays more than newspaper photography, Jenkins said.

“When we come up with a story at NPR, we are no longer thinking about how it’s going to work on the radio. We’re thinking about how it’s going to work period, and then where it’s going to work best,” Jenkins says.

Meanwhile, National Geographic has begun publishing more multimedia content online, including some stories with sound. And online, the magazine brand has to have something to appeal to readers every day, not just monthly.

Rob Covey, managing editor for NGM.com, talked about efforts to keep Internet readers engaged. National Geographic Magazine’s site publishes selections of reader-submitted photos—a dozen a day—and includes games and fun stuff like the “Infinite Photo,” which let the users zoom in on a computer-generated mosaic of other photos. (Easier to show than explain. See it here.) The emphasis on amateur photos and fun-and-games might ruffle National Geographic traditionalists, but readers love it. The site draws 30 million pageviews a month, according to Covey—a big number by magazine standards. A future project will involve user-submitted video, Covey said.

Also part of the discussion last night, National Geographic photographer Stephen Alvarez talked about how digital cameras have enabled photographers to shoot better pictures in difficult places (such as dark caves), and “All Things Considered” producer Andrea Hsu showed some photo stories NPR has published online. NPR correspondent Jacki Lyden (who, incidentally, is married to Washington Post photographer William O'Leary) led the discussion.

Afterwards, staff from both NPR and National Geographic mingled at a reception at National Geographic Society headquarters, like old friends.

Pictured, left to right: Andrea Hsu, Keith Jenkins, Jacki Lyden, Steven Alvarez, Rob Covey.

Comments

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Advancements in technology makes rivals out of everyone, it seems. I wonder how long before we start to see one or other of the companies taking shots at the other here and there. Not long, I'd wager...

Cindia Chambers