Most people still consider Google to be their search engine of choice. Whether you’re seeking out the weather in your town or typing in lyrics to find the title of that new song, Google has become synonymous with search — so much so that “googling” has entered its way into our daily vocabulary. But after its YouTube acquisition several years ago, innovations with self-driving cars, and its most recent Pixel smartphone announcement, Google is proving there’s a lot more to this search company than meets the eye. It’s not just a search site anymore; Google has solidified itself as one of the leading and cutting-edge media tech companies of our day.
The Lab
In addition to their innovations and high tech aspirations, Google is also working with journalists, organizations and entrepreneurs to help “build the future of media” through an initiative called Google News Lab. With a host of online tutorials and courses in topics and skills ranging from Mobile Journalism to Multimedia Storytelling, this branch focuses primarily on training and equipping storytellers through free, Google-specific tools.
Nicholas Whitaker is one of the training and development managers for the lab. He works closely with journalism organizations, strategizing to develop and train a network of storytellers across the country. In fact, Whitaker has met with over 40,000 journalists in 38 different countries to teach them all the ways Google can help them bring their stories to life, and he is now working with universities and colleges to do the same.
The Tips
Because he’s pretty well versed in all his company has to offer, Whitaker is the perfect person to give us some storytelling tools and tips straight from one of the greatest content curators in the world – Google. So whether you’re a journalism student, entrepreneur, or seasoned storyteller, here are a few of Whitaker’s go-to tools for storytelling – all for free:
Trends: Everyone knows how to Google search, but did you know you can see real-time trends on what people across the globe are “googling” right this very second? With Google Trends, you can sift through a firehose of real-time data to discover what the world is curious about. For example, you can find out the 10 most-searched NFL players of 2016 or who the most-searched candidates were during the first Republican debate in very cool and playable visual timelines. Time Magazine used this feature in 2014 to write an article on the most-searched people and events from that year, and you can use it to help tell your story! With categories such as health, business, or sports, you can monitor how popular topics may be at any certain time and tailor your content to match. You can also filter searches by country, date, or find specific words, like “sneakers” to stay in touch with your community.
360 Video: Have you ever watched a 360 video on YouTube or Facebook before? If you haven’t, give it a try; it could change your life. According to Whitaker, “There’s an empathetic quality to this content that I don’t think is available in a lot of other formats.” Just take a look at The Guardian’s story 6×9: a virtual experience of solitary confinement. This is not your average video content. With high quality audio and creativity, you can virtually immerse your audience into you or your brand’s world. As fast as technology is changing, 360 cameras are quickly becoming very affordable. While high quality GoPro rigs may cost you a fortune, you can purchase a Ricoh Theta for just a few hundred dollars and start telling your story in fresh and effective ways. YouTube even provides simple steps to create and upload your videos.
data visualizations can help you tell your story in the same way a video or picture can
Data Visualizations: Maybe you’ve never thought of using spreadsheets or numbers to tell a story. But in today’s “information age,” survey responses, forms and even the analytics from your social media accounts can become your next big story. Whitaker says data visualizations can “help tell your story in the same way a video or picture can tell your story.” One prime example of this is the New York Times story, mapping out uninsured Americans. At a glance, users can understand large data sets and interact with stories like never before. Google even provides resources for finding public data that might help you tell your story and create compelling visuals, like heat maps or infographics.
Other valuable lessons provided by Google News Lab include quick-guides to basic services like Google Maps and how to hack your searches for more effective results. Some of our favorite Google tools include:
- Reverse image search – find out if anyone is using your copyrighted images
- Translate – there’s an augmented reality option in the mobile app to hover over words, and it will be translated on-the-fly!
- Google Alerts – every company, business, or individual should be notified any time their name is mentioned in the world wide web
Beyond these tools, the Google News lab will soon be offering new curriculum and courses in the coming days, weeks and months, so be sure to check their site regularly for updates. With just a little extra time, you can use these free tools help you find new ways to connect with your communities creatively and effectively!