Criteria for selection and presentation

There are many ways to communicate information visually. Visual elements must be relevant to the text, and must enhance the explanation you provide in words. It is not enough simply to refer your readers to the element and hope that they will understand its relevance.

Tables

Tables are the easiest visual to create with your standard word processing software. However, because tables can contain quite a lot of information in a short space, you must be careful not to bombard your readers with too much information.

Graphs and charts

Both Word and Excel are able to automatically create graphs and charts. Graphs make it visually easier for the reader to grasp general trends. Remember, though, that some readers need the detail of actual figures. Always choose a method of presenting information graphically that fits with the reader's needs.

Pie charts may be used to depict proportions that make up a whole, such as budget categories or survey breakdowns.
Bar charts (histograms) may be used to show comparisons, distributions, or category tabulations.
Line graphs display qualitative information by means of lines; they are extremely versatile and are therefore used extensively.
All graphs and charts
- must be clear and easy to read;
- must be labelled;
- must have labels large enough to be visible.

Photographs

Photographs are invaluable when developing human interest stories. They can help create an impression about the impact of WHO’s work better than a text-based description. You need to be judicious in your selection of photos to include to make the most of their impression on your readers. To see many examples of effective use of photos, consult the WHO website.