2013 Eyes of History: New Media Contest: Issue Reporting: Non-linear

Ben de la Cruz, The Washington Post
Ben de la Cruz, Video Producer
Wilson Andrews, Design and Development
David S. Fallis, Reporter

Capitol Assets: One Senator’s Story: At least 73 members of Congress have sponsored legislation in recent years that could benefit businesses in which either they are invested, according to a Post investigation. As a prime example, the interactive video “One Senator’s Story” was programmed to trigger an interactive map that highlights the proximity of Sen Richard Shelby’s property holdings to the revitalized section of downtown Tuscaloosa that he championed with earmarks worth $124 million.

Alexandra Garcia, The Washington Post
Alexandra Garcia, Multimedia Producer and Video Reporter
Spencer S. Hsu, Reporter
Wilson Andrews, Web design
Jennifer Jenkins, Graphics
Cristina Rivero, Graphics

How accurate is forensic analysis?: For years, Justice Department officials have known there were flaws in the forensics behind a long series of criminal cases they prosecuted. They even appointed a task force to study the problems. What they didn’t do was tell defendants who were convicted using the flawed data. A Washington Post investigation uncovered that Justice Department officials have known for years that flawed forensic work might have led to the convictions of potentially innocent people, but prosecutors failed to notify defendants or their attorneys even in many cases they knew were troubled. The Post’s package included video profiles of two men who were jailed because of the errors„ a database of convictions linked to the FBI lab’s suspect forensics, and an interactive graphic explaining the reliability of different types of analysis. Users can click through an interactive graphic to learn about the reliability of different types of forensic analysis.

Whitney Shefte, The Washington Post
Video, reporting, narration and editing by Whitney Shefte Photography by Michael S. Williamson Reporting and writing by Steven Mufson Production assistance by Natalie Mufson

Keystone: Down the Line: In the summer of 2012, The Washington Post embarked on a trip that traced the 1,700-mile length of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, a $7 billion project that had aroused intense controversy in Washington. Their journey by car from the oil sands of Fort McMurray to Edmonton, both in Canada, down the spine of America to the Texas coast brought this inanimate piece of steel pipe to life. They met corporate executives, small town saloon owners, ranchers and oil workers. They visited vast open pit mines and the crowded interior of worker trailers. They met with environmentalists and entrepreneurs alike, all to paint a comprehensive picture of how construction of the Keystone XL pipeline will affect Americans. This project is presented in blog format and includes videos, photo galleries and text stories. Given the method in which this project was produced, it may make sense to view the project beginning at the bottom, working one’s way up the page.