Scribd vs. DocumentCloud

Today, I learned about a new tool called DocumentCloud. DocumentCloud is a tool that is very similar to Scribd. It is a site that allows you to upload documents into a viewer window so that you can embed it onto your website/blog.

This is an example of a map uploaded to Scribd:
Ulster County Legislature Map 4-27-11

As you can see Scribd allows you to view a document as is, full screen,or gives you the option to zoom in and out. It also allows you to download or share the document.

Now take a look at a map that was put into DocumentCloud:

DocumentCloud allows you to view the document as is, in full screen, or you can zoom in and out as you please. It also gives you the option of what you want to view; the actual document, the notes that were implemented, or the text format of the document.

The main difference between Scribd and DocumentCloud is that in DocumentCloud you can insert notes or annotations into the document. This is something that is not an option with Scribd.

For the purpose of testing out this tool, I used a map of Ulster County that shows the latest redistricting plan. Please acknowledge that I was simply trying to test out this tool, so the information may not be accurate.

I was able to highlight an area of the document that I wanted to comment on. When a viewer clicks on it, a notes tab pops up with the highlighted portion of the document. You can also insert a link into the pop-up box as well. It is more interactive than Scribd and allows for input on the document.

As great as DocumentCloud is, there are some drawbacks as well. DocumentCloud is only accessible for newspaper organizations and you need to get permission from an editor to use it. Scribd on the other hand, is available to anybody who signs up for an account.

As I said earlier, Scribd allows anybody to copy the embed code and share the document with others. DocumentCloud does not. If the creator chooses to make the document public, then only people who have an account can view the document, but they can not share.

I can definitely see DocumentCloud being extremely useful to a news organization. Many major news organizations such as The New York Times, Las Vegas Sun, PBS, L.A. Times, etc already use DocumentCloud.

Here is a link to examples of how they use the tool.

I created this document using Steve Buttry's suggestions for updating the SPJ Code of Ethics. He posted on his blog things he would add, and questions some of the clauses that are already implemented. I turned his suggestions into more of a interactive visual aid.