The Assignmetron is a versatile assignment-tracking tool, which facilitates the creation of news animations by providing a web-based environment where journalists can collect and store their information and then later collaborate with news animators. The creation of this tool, which can be used for assigning and tracking all types of news stories through a publishing cycle, was generously funded by a gift from Next Media Animation.
For Medill students, faculty and staff: Contact Abigail Foerstner for account access. To start using the Assignmetron, fill out the fields below as completely as you can. Your materials will be routed through Medill’s internal editing process before being sent to Next Media Animation.
General guidelines:
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Next Media Animation prefers to have six cut scenes to illustrate. The best animations can share a news story that cannot be explained or shown via video or other methods.
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When conceiving a script, review the video assets, then look for holes in the story. Ask yourself: “What can be brought out with animation?”
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Your news animation concept should be narrowly tailored. Discrete concepts make the best news animations.
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Each cut scene should have an action.
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Provide solid visual reference material along with each cut scene. Share photos, videos, links, and other explanatory material with NextMedia. Be clear when describing the setting, the person or people and the action. This will ensure the best possible news animation.