Why did you decide to focus on this project?
Nonstop News recognised that audio alone was no longer enough to reach younger, platform-native audiences. The team wanted to transform traditional radio journalism into an engaging visual format suitable for social platforms and DAB+, and to future-proof their content strategy by integrating visual storytelling as a permanent part of production rather than an add-on.
Did your approach change engagement with your audience in any way?
Results suggest increased engagement from younger, digitally native audiences and enhanced accessibility and inclusivity for listeners who benefit from subtitles or visual cues.
What challenges did you encounter and how did you address them?
The newsroom faced technical challenges in integrating visuals into DAB+ and optimising content for different platforms. Audience testing also required more time than anticipated. The key lesson: partnerships and networking are essential for overcoming technical barriers, and sufficient time must be built in for thorough testing and iteration.
What insights or lessons did you gain from this project?
Nonstop News learned that integrating DAB+ visualisation, developing visual storytelling skills, optimising content for multiple platforms, and conducting audience research were all more complex than expected. The experience showed them that strong partnerships and networking are essential to overcome technical hurdles, and that thorough testing takes far more time than initially planned.
What do you plan on doing next?
Nonstop News plans to continue building on this project by regularly producing new visualised audio stories and expanding the visual layer now integrated into their DAB+ programming. The reusable content, documented insights, and best practices developed during the project will guide future strategy. Nonstop News will keep refining our workflows, updating training materials, and using audience feedback to shape new formats and platform-specific approaches. Ultimately, the project has strengthened our digital storytelling capacity and will serve as a scalable model for ongoing innovation within our newsroom.
What advice would you give to other journalists or organisations considering a similar path?
Nonstop News’ key advice is to invest early in building partnerships as they are essential for overcoming the challenges of visual storytelling and DAB+ integration. Allocate far more time for testing than you think you'll need, especially when working across multiple platforms with different technical requirements.
Credit: Transitions, Journalismfund Europe's partner for implementing the Microgrants for Small Newsrooms programme, produced this case study.
