Infographics: A Journalist's Guide

Rating:
Summary: Not only for journalists!
Review: Although written for journalists, this book is also a valuable resource for consultants, technical writers and business professionals who use graphics to augment reports, findings and recommendations, and manuals.
The section titled "Principles of Graphic Presentation" provides valuable insights into how to effectively and aesthetically present information that is an accurate portrayal of the facts, concepts and processes about which you are writing.
I personally focused on chapters 3 (Chart-Based Graphics), 5 (Charts Without Numbers) and 7 (Illustration-based Graphics) because of their direct applicability to my profession - IT consultant. In particular, the chapter on chart-based graphics was extremely useful because the wrong chart type actually hampers communication of statistical and numerical information. I appreciated the straightforward advice on selecting the best chart type for the underlying data and how to present it in the most effective manner. I also liked chapter 8, Errors and Inaccuracy, which contained useful pointers on how to avoid common problems with charts and graphic portrayal of information. This book is an excellent addition to any writer's library, and especially so for those of us who need to ensure accuracy and presenting the clearest message to readers. I highly recommend this book and rate it at 5 stars.