PAULINE'S PICKS: The 'Oakland Tribune' Looks at Area Violence in 'Not Just a Number'

By: Pauline Millard 'Not Just a Number' took the best of show award at the Online News Association conference last week, which is what made me want to look into it as a Pauline's Pick.

Many online news projects look at just one story and add some bells and whistles, but 'Not Just a Number' takes the concept of online news a step further. The team took an idea, violence in Oakland, and looked at it from many angles, including causes and possible ways to improve.

There are links to many print stories the paper has run about violence, as well as a special section about slain journalist Chauncey Bailey.

One of the most touching aspects of the project is the homicide map. The map pinpoints the locations of the 106 homicides that have occurred in Oakland in 2007. When you click on a location, many of the links lead to audio interviews with the victims' families, usually a mother or grandmother.

Naturally the families talk about how much they miss their loved one, but what's amazing is how they almost always talk about using the death as a lesson to improve conditions in Oakland and to stop the violence. As shocking as the deaths are for them, they've always known about the violence and want it to end in their communities.

The Oakland Tribune has shown what the future of service journalism can be, and it seems that it is slick, Flash-enhanced, multi-layered projects such as 'Not Just a Number.'

Congrats, again, on your recent award. This was definitely worthy.

Is your paper tackling on a large issue, such a violence, on the Web? I'd love to see it.

Here are some of my Past Picks:

DenverPost.com Rallies For the Rockies in The World Series

The St. Louis 'Post-Dispatch' Follows Recruits Through Basic Training


Milwaukee 'Journal Sentinel' Makes Videos of Local Stories