webdocumentaires

Webdocumentaries, or online documentaries, are documentary works designed primarily for distribution over the Internet. They combine moving images, sound, text, graphics, and interactive elements to present non-fiction narratives. Unlike traditional films, webdocumentaries often use non-linear structures that allow viewers to choose routes through timelines, maps, databases, or related materials, thereby shaping their own understanding of the subject.

Formats and techniques include dedicated websites, interactive portals, or embedded pieces within media sites. Common features are interactive maps and timelines, searchable data visualizations, branching storylines, audio slideshows, transcripts, and social features that invite commentary or collaboration. Production often emphasizes web-friendly formats (HTML5, streaming video, responsive design) and sometimes open data or open-source tools to enable reusability and remixing.

History and scope: The webdocumentary form began to take shape in the late 1990s and expanded through the 2000s and 2010s as web technologies allowed richer multimedia storytelling and collaborative data collection. Projects range from investigative journalism and human-rights reporting to personal or community-centered narratives, often with an emphasis on transparency, user engagement, and participation.

Impact and reception: Webdocumentaries have broadened access to documentary content and encouraged new forms of civic storytelling. They face challenges such as resource intensity, digital accessibility, varying platform support, and questions about framing, bias, and data provenance.