The Guardian has published a user generated map of cuts to local services entitled Cutswatch
Nice simple pins on a map to show what cuts are hitting where and some feedback from users of the services on the impact.
The site seems to be moderated to prevent the trolls coming along and posting loads of false points, not very open but probably quite sensible. It might be a good idea to explain what the moderation/review policies are.
A neat way for the Guardian to crowd source news gathering and no doubt this will be fuel for some articles on the impact of the cuts on the arts and the regions.
2 thoughts on “A cut near you”
A good idea for crowd-sourcing local information on cuts BUT another example of poor online media-cartography. The ‘simple pins’ are anything but…they are large, gawdy splodges. They overlap which is an inevitable result of this type of push-pin overlay and as such don’t provide any impression of whatever spatial patterns might be evident. Good quality web maps require specific design considerations…not just throwing push pins on a generic map service.
I agree the pushpins are lumpy and don’t illustrate very much. On the other hand in this case the map isn’t really trying to tell much of a story it’s just an index to the content.
I don’t want to get into knocking the cartography because I think the use case is good but I agree it could be better.