A stunning piece of multimedia journalism, Snow Fall was able to successfully inform, entertain, and incite an emotional reaction. The use of videos, photos, and maps helped me to figure out the exact trajectory of the avalanche. These tools, combined with Branch’s clear writing style, made the story easy to read and understand, even for someone who knows nothing about skiing, mountains, or avalanches. Yes, the nature of the story is interesting as it is, but the way it was written and displayed made it an especially gripping piece.

I especially liked the videos. Putting a face to the name and hearing a firsthand account is especially powerful in stories of this nature. The videos helped round out a story that was covered from every angle and gave it more of a dramatic, personal feel. Elyse’s accounts, to me, were the most poignant and added something more three-dimensional to the narrative.

I think a story about genetic engineering would work especially well in this format. Maps, models, photos, and clear simple language would be effective in communicating such a complicated message. Like Snow Fall, the issue of genetic engineering would also benefit from being explained in both a factual way and a personal, “human interest” kind of way. The descriptive, educational format of Snow Fall would make genetic engineering easier to understand for the average reader who might not know a lot about the subject.