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, as he recognised the power of the camera to freeze an image, 'to put the human face on global conflict.' (Sites, 2006).

Photos can also be used to emphasise a particular element central to the story. Animated graphics are increasingly used on news websites to demonstrate how something works, to simplify a complex issue or process, or to show something visually that cannot be captured on film. Maps are not only useful to locate the story geographically, but can also be layered with other information in the form of factual data, graphics and images, and interactive maps allow the user to 'play' with the information, thus drawing them further into the story (Stevens, 2007). Text is best used to add historical, geographical or cultural context, to describe the complexities of the story that cannot be captured through any other medium, or to present a critical analysis of the issue.

Multimedia stories are inherently interactive in nature, as they are presented online in a non-linear format, meaning that the user can navigate between elements of the story in any order they wish. Each element may stand alone as a report in and of itself, or form part of a larger overall picture, but no element is redundant, meaning that no two pieces tell the same part of the story (for example you would not simply include a transcription, edited or in full, of an audio clip if that clip had already been uploaded as an individual element of the story). A simple, short text paragraph can be used to introduce the story and tie all the individual elements together. This paragraph is presented on the website with links to the audio, video, text and image elements. This way, no one element is prioritised over another, which allows the user to navigate through the elements as they choose. Elements may include, for example, profiles of people central to the story, a presentation of the event or situation, the process of how something works, background or historical information, or critical analysis. Through the use of interactive features, multimedia projects have the power to create a community of users online which mirrors the community presented in the multimedia content. The non-linear format draws the user into the story by allowing them to decide how they consume the content. They may choose to skim the content by reading just one article or watching a single video clip, or they may watch, listen, look at and read every element on the website, in addition to following links to external resources on other websites, or participating in a discussion about the story by posting a comment.

背包的记者-Backpack journalists

An essential practical consideration for any journalist embarking on a multimedia story is that interviews and research must be conducted face-to-face rather than by phone or email. Thus, the multimedia journalist must spend much more time with the community that they are covering in their report than a traditional print journalist would. Multimedia storytelling is increasingly being carried out by 'backpack journalists', otherwise known as 'mojos' (mobile journalists), 'sojos' (solo journalists). These journalists are embedded within the community rather than working from an office desk, and are required to file stories on the go using mobile devices. The fact that the journalist is rooted in the community creates a closer connection and trust between the journalist and the pe