A Minefield of the Principles Of Universal Design: Digital Maps and Journalism

Year 2018, , 163 - 177, 30.07.2018

Bilge Narin

https://doi.org/10.17680/erciyesiletisim.422452

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Even though maps are one of the oldest types of news storytelling as an effective
way to transfer news with spatial content, it is a neglected topic in communication
studies. On the other hand, news mapping has entered a new stage with the news
on digital platforms and developments in web technologies. While the emergence of
large data sets has led to the popularization of digital cartography, journalists need
to add cartography to their professional competency. In this study, firstly, the findings
of a limited number of studies on maps in newspapers are summarized. Then, digital
map stories are evaluated in the context of new technological possibilities. In the
last part of the study, the importance of the principles of universal design in the
context of web accessibility is questioned with the sample of the digital maps on
the most clicked online newspapers in Turkey. The sample is limited to the digital
news maps that are related to the Turkish constitutional referendum on 16th April
2017. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the technological
features expected to facilitate access to information by disadvantaged groups are
not sufficiently used in the design and contents of the digital maps.

Keywords

digital cartography, the principles of universal design, map, internet journalism

Evrensel Tasarım İlkelerinin Mayınlı Alanı: Dijital Haritalar ve Gazetecilik

Abstract

Haritalar mekânsal bir içeriğe sahip haberleri aktarmanın etkili bir yolu olarak
en eski haber anlatı türlerinden olsa da iletişim araştırmalarında ihmal edilen
bir alan olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Öte yandan haberin dijital platformlara
taşınması ve web teknolojilerindeki gelişmeler ile birlikte, haber haritacılığı
yeni bir evreye girmiştir. Büyük veri setlerinin ortaya çıkması dijital haritacılığın
popülerleşmesine neden olurken, gazetecilerin öz yeteneklerine kartografinin de
eklenmesini gerekli kılmıştır. Bu araştırmada, alandaki eksikliği gidermek amacıyla
öncelikle gazetelerdeki harita anlatılarıyla ilgili sınırlı sayıdaki araştırmanın
bulguları özetlenmiştir. Ardından, dijital harita anlatıları yeni teknolojik olanaklar
bağlamında değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmanın son bölümünde, Türkiye’de çok tıklanan
çevrimiçi gazetelerde yer verilen dijital haritalarda evrensel tasarım ilkelerinin
web erişilebilirliği bağlamında ne derece önemsendiği sorgulanmıştır. Örneklem
16 Nisan 2017 Anayasa değişikliği referandumuyla ilgili dijital haber haritaları
ile sınırlı tutulmuştur. Araştırma sonucunda dezavantajlı grupların enformasyona
erişimini kolaylaştırması beklenen teknolojik özelliklerin, dijital haritaların tasarım
ve içeriklerinde yeterince kullanılmadığı saptanmıştır.

Keywords

dijital kartografya, evrensel tasarım ilkeleri, harita, internet gazeteciliği

References

• Batuman, B. (2010). The Shape of the Nation: Visual Production of Nationalism Through Maps in Turkey. Political Geography, 29, 220-234.
• Berendsen, M. E., Hamerlinck, J. D. ve Webster, G. R. (2018). Digital Story Mapping to Advance Educational Atlas Design and Enable Student Engagement. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 7, 125, 1-23.
• Berners-Lee, T. (1997). W3C Leads Program to Make the Web Accessible for People with Disabilities (Press release). Erişim: https://www.w3.org/Press/WAILaunch.html
• Brittain, K. D. (1995). Persons with Disabilities Can and Do Surf the Net! Colorado Libraries, 21, 17-19.
• Center for Accessible Housing (1995). Accessible environments: Toward Universal Design. Raleigh: North Carolina State University
• D’Ignazio, C. (2017). Creative Data Literacy: Bridging the Gap Between The DataHaves and Data-Have Nots. Information Design Journal, 23(1), 6–18.
• D’Ignazio, C. ve Bhargava, R. (2016). DataBasic: Design Principles, Tools and Activities for Data Literacy Learners. The Journal Of Community Informatics, 12(3), 83-107.
• Del Casino, V. ve Stephen H. (2005). Beyond the Binaries: A Methodological Intervention for Interrogating Maps as Representational Practices. ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies, 4 (1), 36–56.
• Demirci, A. ve Barut, Y. (2015). Türkiye’de Haber Kanallarında Harita Kullanımı. Marmara Coğrafya Dergisi, Sayı: 32, Temmuz, 1-21.
• Dodge, M., Kitchin, R. ve Perkins, C. (2009). Thinking About Maps. Editör (Haz./Ed.). Dodge Martin, Kitchin Rob ve Chris Perkins. Rethinking Maps (s.1–25). New Frontiers in Cartographic Theory, London ve New York: Routledge.
• Dorling, D. ve Fairbairn, D. (1997). Mapping: Ways of Representing the World. Harlow: Longman.
• Friedman, M. G. ve Bryen, D. N. (2007). Web Accessibility Design Recommendations for People with Cognitive Disabilities. Technology and Disability, 19, 205–212.
• Geller, T. (2007). Imaging the World: The State of Online Mapping. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, March‐April, 27(2), 8‐13.
• Global Digital Map Market Report 2017-2021 (2017). Technavia.com, Erişim: 30 Haziran 2018, https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=Global+Digita l+Map+Market+2017-2021&type=sample&src=report
• Harley, J. B. (1988). Maps, Knowledge and Power. Editör (Haz./Ed.). D. Cosgroveve S. Daniels. The Iconography of Landscape (s.277-312). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Holmberg, M. O. ve Foote, K. E. (2008). Journalistic Cartography on the Web: A Comparison of Print and Online Maps in Seven Major American Newspapers. Editör (Haz./Ed.). Peterson M.P. International Perspectives on Maps and the Internet: Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography (s.323-340). Berlin ve Heidelberg: Springer.
• Kirsner, S. (1997). Web of Confusion. American Journalism Review. July, 19, 34-39.
• Levin, P. (2016). The Digital Journalist’s Toolbox: Mapping, IJNet: Internet Journalists’ Network, July 21st 2016, Erişim: 30 Haziran 2018, https://ijnet.org/en/blog/ digital-journalist’s-toolbox-mapping
• Luchetta, S. (2017). Exploring The Literary Map: An analytical review of online literary mapping projects. Geography Compass, 1-17.
• Mace, R. L. (1985). Universal Design: Barrier Free Environments for Everyone. Designers West, 33(1): 147-152.
• Mace, R. L. (1991). The Accessible Housing Design File. Barrier Free Environments Incorporated.
• Medzini, A. (2017). The Role Of Geographıcal Maps In Terrıtorıal Dısputes Between Japan And Korea. European Journal of Geography, 8(1), 44 – 60.
• Monmonier, M. (1989). Maps with the News: The Development of American Journalistic Cartography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Monmonier, M. (2005). Lying with Maps, Statistical Science, 20(3), 215–222.
• O’Beirne, Justin (2016). Cartography Comparison. Erişim: 30 Haziran 2018, https:// www.justinobeirne.com/cartography-comparison/#back-note2
• Quiquivix, L. (2014). Art of War, Art of Resistance: Palestinian Counter-Cartography on Google Earth. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: 104(3), 444-459.
• Paciello, M. G. (1996). Making the Web Accessible for the Deaf, Hearing, and Mobility Impaired. Florida Libraries, 39, 83-91.
• Robinson, A. C., Demšar, U., Moore, A. B., Buckley, A., Jiang, B., Field, K., Kraak, M.J., Camboim, S.P. ve Sluter, C.R. (2017). Geospatial Big Data and Cartography: Research Challenges and Opportunities for Making Maps that Matter. International Journal of Cartography, 3 (1), 32-60.
• Salovaara, I. (2016). Participatory Maps: Digital Cartographies and The New Ecology of Journalism. Digital Journalism, 4(7), 827-837.
• Schimak, G. , Havlik, D. ve Pielorz, J. Crowdsourcing in Crisis and Disaster Management – Challenges and Considerations. İçinde: Denzer R., Argent R.M., Schimak G., Hřebíček J. (ed.) Environmental Software Systems. Infrastructures, Services and Applications. ISESS 2015. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 448. Springer, Cham, 56-70.
• The Segue Creative Team (2015). Why Whitespace is so Important in Web Design. Segue Technologies, Erişim: 11 Temmuz 2018, https://www.seguetech.com/ whitespace-web-design/
• Vujakovic, P. (2002). Mapping the War Zone: Cartography, Geopolitics and Security Discourse in the UK Press, Journalism Studies, 3(2), 187–202.
• Wagner, J. (2015). Top 10 Mapping APIs: Google Maps, Microsoft Bing Maps and MapQuest. ProgrammableWeb, Erişim: 11 Temmuz 2018, https:// www.programmableweb.com/news/top-10-mapping-apis-google-mapsmicrosoft-bing-maps-and-mapquest/analysis/2015/02/23
• Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (2018). Erişim: 11 Temmuz 2018, https://wave. webaim.org/
• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) (2018). Erişim: 11 Temmuz 2018, https://www. w3.org/WAI/
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (2018). Erişim: 11 Temmuz 2018, https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (2018). Tips for Getting Started Designing for Web Accessibility. Erişim: 11 Temmuz 2018, https://www.w3.org/WAI/tips/ designing/