This longread tells a riveting and terrifying story, but that isn't why it has generated significant buzz on the internet. What really sets this article apart is not its content but its structure and delivery. The New York Times has published many excellent articles that have been featured on this blog, and with its growing focus on the digital realm, the Times has also looked for ways to make its content more appealing and more informative. With this "interactive" longread, they've hit a home run. The multimedia design of this story isn't just a nice layout; instead, it is an effective use of text, pictures, and graphics to help keep the reader engaged and deepen his or her understanding of the article. Reading through the entire piece takes awhile, but it's worth it for the story itself and for the glimpse it provides into what the direction of online longform journalism may look like in the near future.
"Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek" by John Branch
Published in the New York Times, December 20, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek
Eric
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