Digital Literacy: Infographics Versus Interactives

Abstract

Infographics is a new type of Journalism, a new Genre, adapted to the needs, both formal  and functional, of communications. Its layout is quite different depending on two media developments, static (printed or displayed on a screen, printed graphics) or dynamic (adaptation of digital media including multimedia possibilities, multimedia graphics). This is shown in several academic studies, the infographics widespread in media use and the profusion of infographics professionals. After a summary of the situation, we study the case of three Spanish Newspapers and two from the USA with graphics  department,  analyzing  developments  informative  infographics into  two  separate  ways,  printed  paper  or  static display on the screen, and in its evolution work in the digital environment. We have checked how the general public is still not  properly literate  to  make  a  general  consume  of  the  digital  development. This  requires a rethinking of the structure  of media companies as far as graphics and data journalism is concerned.