The multiverse: how simple examples make information more accessible
Some scientists are incredibly good at explaining difficult theories. I recently stumbled upon this lecture by Sean Carroll. He’s a research associate in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology.
Entropy
Carroll explains in this video, the theory of the ‘multiverse’. What struck me most is his unbelievably simple way of telling me what entropy is. I’ve always struggled with the idea of an ever higher state of entropy. Carroll actually made things much more clear to me, just with the help of a simple example (the chicken and the egg).
What this video proves, is that by explaining things with the help of those examples, everything is so much more understandable for the audience. And more importantly: the information is accessible for more people. I’m sure without the example, a third of viewers would turn off the video, not getting what he was talking about.
Journalism
Applying that to journalism: as a reporter, it’s very important to use examples or cases (e.g.: people), to make things more clear to viewers. Actually, that’s more important than delivering details of the facts you are reporting. It should all be clear, in the first place.
Viewers never remember the details. So you’d better put all the effort in making the basic message clear.