Findings: Interviews
Interviewee Details
A Channel 4 interactive news specialism has existed since 2010. Ciaran Hughes_
career background is in newspaper graphics.
The BBC Specials team has existed since 2003. Today it comprises eight journal-
ists, four developers and four designers. Bella Hurrel_s background is in arts journalism.
The Guardian_s interactive team was created in 2001. Paddy Allen was a founder
member of the team, and his background is in newspaper graphics. Michael Robinson_s
background is in newspaper design.
Michael Agar_s background is in infographic design across various national
newspapers. He was formerly head of graphics at the Daily Telegraph between 2008
and 2012.
The FT_s Interactives team has existed since 2005. Today it comprises nine
members, equally weighted between data journalists, developers, and designers. Emily
Cadman_s background is jointly in magazine and news journalism.
The Status and Function of Interactives Journalists Within the Newsroom
All participants are involved in editorial decision-making at their respective organ-
isations. Drawing comparison with colleagues who work in TV graphics, Ciaran explains
that his work is far more involved editorially, in generating ideas and in treatments:
I differ from the TV guys, in graphics; I won_t react to a script_I_m much more
involved from the very start in editorial and not just in deciding what we do and how
we do it do, but in suggesting subjects, I_m involved in visual journalism. (Ciaran
Hughes, interview by author, digital recording, London, 27 July 2012)