Story Map FAQs
Is a story map the best tool?
Before you even start planning for your story map, its best to first ask yourself, “Do I need to use ArcGIS StoryMaps or is there a better tool?”
Story maps can do a lot of things well. ArcGIS StoryMaps work best for focused, linear narratives that are geospatial in nature. Below are some questions to aks yourself about the story you want to tell when considering using ArcGIS StoryMaps:
- Does your story have a geospatial or map-based component?
- Does your narrative rely on maps/geospatial data or is it more of an after thought?
- Do I want this shared with other people (either at NHMLAC or the public)?
- Is my content under approx. 10 minutes reading time or can it be broken up into smaller volumes?
If the answer was “no” to these questions, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use ArcGIS StoryMaps. However, it might be that a different platform, such as Google Slides, Google Sites, or nhm.org/stories might be more appropriate.
How long does it take to create a Story Map?
Short answer: as quick as 30 minutes or as long as several months.
The answer to this question is dependant on how ambitious a story map you’re planning. For reference, the Ancient LA collection of three story maps took around nine months to fully complete. This included the work that went into researching the topics, writing the scripts, finding data, cleaning that data and visualizing it along with working with researchers and a paleoartists to bring the story maps to life.
Example Story Maps
It can be helpful to look at exemplar story maps to understand what ArcGIS StoryMaps are capable of. Below is a short list of some particularly good story maps that demonstrate the platform’s strengths.
Narrative driven
- Illuminating the Deep
- How Deep is Challenger Deep
- The Sounds of the Wild West
- The Voices of the Grand Canyon
Data Driven