What I’m Reading
September 4, 2024
In today’s What I’m Reading, I’ll share an interesting infographic on migration in America, a European migration story, and observations on how we use language to connect with others.
Migration visualized
I found read-worthy articles and stories while dusting off the Flipboard app on my phone. Some pieces I earmarked for a closer inspection were recent, some older.
The New York Times’s How to Fix America’s Immigration Crisis lurked in a board of data visualization recommendations.
It’s an interactive op-ed from the start of the year.
Steven Rattner, Maureen White (text), and Taylor Maggiacomo (graphics) start with a breakdown of the attempts to cross the American-Mexican border to enter the U.S.
It’s an interactive graphic that builds in steps and has text explainers for each step.
The base data point is the 3.1 million attempted border crossings in 2023. The graphic tells the story of what happens next in a convincing, almost playful way. I found it engaging.
You’ll see the different paths that await people attempting to enter the U.S., from undetected crossings to “encountering” U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel and the possible following steps.
It’s a superb infographic and worth studying.
And if you wish, you can take it further because it builds the foundation for the following essay.
The writers offer ideas for better migration management in America and include more data.
While it’s important to consider what happens at the border, what happens away from the border, how many people are allowed in, and for which reasons, I liked that they included a look at the origins of migration. I’ll leave you to your own time with the article (if you wish and can) with a quote I want to underline:
“Of course, the most humane way to reduce the flow to our border would be to help improve conditions in the countries from which many of the new arrivals emanate. But we chose differently.“
Migration investigated
Migrants Abandoned on the Edge of the Sahara is a worrying story from earlier this summer.
A team of nine reporters from news organizations from eight countries tried to clarify how migrants can end up in the Sahara desert (left there on purpose and with no aid). The investigation checked into government involvement, including EU funding for what EU paperwork calls “migration management.”
The reporters documented the situation in three countries. They spoke with migrants, experts, and politicians.
This important story emphasizes personal experiences. For example, you’ll hear about arbitrary arrests in Morocco. “If you spend enough time in northern Morocco,” the writers conclude, “you will eventually have the opportunity to film such an arrest yourself.”
They also investigated what EU officials knew about how EU-funded organizations handle migrants.
It’s an emotional read, packed with powerful reporting and faces that make you care. It’s a must-read migration story that needs as much attention as possible.
The art of using language effectively
Today’s final recommendation is worthwhile for anyone interested in communicating effectively.
Nieman storyboard’s Jacqui Banaszynski’s The allusions and confusions of regional references deals with the dangers of losing readers when using cultural references to connect with readers.
Football references during the Democratic National Convention were lost on some reporters, cause to look closer Banaszynski explains concepts such as the ladder of abstraction, a writer’s voice, and the limits of universal anecdotes.
I enjoyed this post, particularly the conclusion on how far cultural references can go before we risk leaving readers wondering what those references mean. Writing is like life: it depends.
The second of four new Fun With Cameras posts will be published this weekend. Until then, enjoy your readings.
