The power of maps. Cartography workshop with the Le Monde team

To explain world events—whether contemporary or past conflicts, the accelerating effects of climate change, or the results of contested elections—Le Monde has relied for decades on maps as a privileged narrative tool. The maps produced for the newspaper and its website convey complex phenomena by making them accessible and by highlighting the relationships between the various actors involved. The value of mapping in journalism should be evident, yet in some contexts it is still underestimated. But what exactly is a map? Starting from this question, and drawing on a series of examples and practices, Francesca Fattori (journalist and researcher at Le Monde) and Riccardo Pravettoni (journalist and cartographer at Le Monde) will guide participants in creating a thematic map focused on one of the most pressing issues in today’s geopolitical landscape. The process will move from shaping the narrative—structuring the key message to be conveyed—to sourcing and processing data, then to visualization and the final design stage. Throughout, participants will be introduced to essential guidelines for producing a sound and coherent map, grounded in reliable content and sources, while learning how to avoid common mistakes that can turn a map into a mere decorative artifact.