Locator maps: love 'em, hate 'em, use them wisely

“One field mouse is cute, but 100,000 of them …” reads a newspaper graphics guide produced by the Detroit Free Press in 2006. And when it comes to locator maps, this mantra couldn’t ring truer.
 
I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with locator maps, and in the age of interactive, I have come to respect the value of a map even more. The New York Times is known for the elegant way they use maps, like this interactive of peoples’ Netflix rental patterns.

Linking information that shows a geographic pattern can be a powerful thing. 

Maps, according to my cartography professor, show geographic phenomena. More simply, maps show us how geography influences natural variables such as temperature and elevation. On a human level, the right map can show distribution of poverty, political affiliation or even travel time between two points. Maps help explain how where we live affects our experiences. A good map can make sense of a story in ways a Pulitzer-winning writer would never dream.

Not every newspaper is The New York Times and, as a result, not all maps are created equal. In newspapers (particularly this newspaper), maps are more often used to supplement a story. If there is a new railway planned, a map can help show its path. If a number of houses are being foreclosed on, a map helps readers see the distribution of the properties. And most of the time, that’s a very helpful thing.

In comes the field mouse analogy. Maps can be surprising helpful, but too many can be overwhelming. Locator maps should be used wisely and only when the geography is relevant. If your audience is familiar with the area in which an incident takes place, a map might not be necessary. An accident on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Hagadorn Road? In East Lansing, most of your readers don’t need a map telling them the location of the intersection. Give your readers a little credit and use maps to show them something useful. 

The power of a simple map often is overlooked. If your design is simple, it can be created quickly and efficiently. In a longer project, a map can be a story in and of itself. Just be careful not to let maps become an addiction — too many of them, and your readers won’t bother even looking anymore. 

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