Newsroom developers at Nine’s metro mastheads in Sydney and Melbourne have developed a modular system to add context and depth to news content.

Deputy digital editor Sophia Phan says the development has evolved as a result of a search for better ways to showcase journalism and create a more engaging experience for subscribers.

A presentation hub had been developed toward the end of 2020 for editors, producers, and reporters of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age to add depth to stories. “It allows them to easily create and embed modules such as document tear-outs, timelines, polls, and audio quote embeds to develop better digital products,” she says in an INMA Digital Strategies Blog.

‘Before’ and ‘after’ sliders, and in-article galleries allowed imagery from our award-winning photographers to be better showcased, and assisted in the narrative.

In this article, 14 of the interactions between 2021 ‘Australian of the year’ Grace Tame and prime minister Scott Morrison were presented. “The photo widget allowed us to enhance the story and display a series of images in chronological order, rather than be limited to one or two.

The slider module allows several images to be inserted into an article.

Recently, the tear-out function was used to embed the travel declaration form top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic used to enter Australia amid all the breaking coverage surrounding his visa saga ahead of the Australian Open.

The tear-out function offered additional context for the situation regarding Djokovic’s travels to Australia.

The modules add more context to stories and allow information to be conveyed in a more digestible manner. Once created, the embed can be used in multiple articles to enhance the storytelling. If any changes need to be made, it is then refreshed across all articles in which it features.

The presentation hub functionality is not limited to hard news articles. It is also frequently championed in sporting blogs to create a dynamic reading experience and spark conversation with readers throughout the duration of a game.

An example is the 2021 NRL Grand Final live blog, in which sports journalists and editors used the poll functionality throughout the game at key moments and during decisive plays.

Polling modules allow for immediate feedback from readers.

“We know fans love to interact throughout big matches, and they have a lot to say when it comes to their favourite teams and players,” says Phan.

Ratings are updated at both half- and full-time to reflect each side’s performance.

Separate from the presentation hub, the premium content team has recently developed a number of interactives to better serve readers. Ahead of the summer and Christmas holidays in Australia, the emerging Omicron wave made the never-ending state and territory border woes harder to navigate. Differing COVID-19 case numbers dictated different rules around vaccination and test status. This interstate planner allowed readers to see what documentation was needed prior to travel, the module offering readers up-to-date information based on their specific situation.

The concept was simple, but the result is a serviceable product for our subscribers that can be easily updated as rules change.

“Another such example was the close contact interactive test we developed in light of changes announced in the national cabinet, where the prime minister and state and territory leaders meet to discuss the latest COVID-19 measures,” she says.

With a lot of “moving parts and variables” to the new conditions, the best way to visualise and convey this information was in the form of a flowchart-style quiz. “That way readers could quickly find out – without having to read through all the fine print – if they had to isolate or not, and what next steps were required.

When new information becomes available, modules are updated across the site, making them easy for readers to use.

“These elements significantly enhance our journalism and provide a valuable service to our subscribers,” says Phan. “The data can be translated across different digital platforms, and easily edited and reimagined to adapt to the changing nature of news.”