At last, an antidote to USA Today

When the lights go on at the New York Times, our work can start:

"But the Times is attracting an all-star team of information architects, interactive graphics designers, programmers, and media producers. And according to Gabriel Dance and Shan Carter, these folks are increasingly collaborating with reporters to marshall complex information in ways that make the newspaper’s stories deeper and more open to independent analysis and interpretation."

Jon's statement made me realize: NYT is providing an antidote to USA Today.

When USA Today first appeared, it was criticized for emphasizing glitz over substance. Its articles often oversimplified complex issues. Its graphics were colorful and, almost always, misleading.

NYT is getting it right, especially with interactive graphics. Sure, they're often glitzy. But they also communicate clearly. And they make it easier to understand the data which they present, in part by making it easier to explore.