Bookraft

The New York Times website has been setting a high graphics standard for the maps it uses to display important news stories. Take the following map from the Chinese Earthquake yesterday:

The map practiclly tells the story on its own. What areas were hardest hit. Which places are large and small in population. Where given the moutainous or planar conditions it will be comparatively hard or easy to get aid to the victims.

And this map is not alone, the NYTimes does regularly for economic and political issues as shown here on the US presidential race finances. I used to look to US Today or the LAtimes for the best of informative graphics. But now, the NYTimes sets the standard.

This map, the damage diagram, and its interactive pictures tells the story of the utter devastation unleashed in the southwestern mountains of China with such clarity. Contrast this with what is being presented in Burma - such a difference not just in the info available but also the two governments reaction and response. The contrast is stark.
Meanwhile it is worth noting again, the NYTimes is setting the Web News Mapping standards.