The storytelling experiment CNN undertakes with this piece is respectable, and many aspects of the "Grim Sleeper" case are presented in a way that's easy to digest. The level of interactivity is impressive too. But in essence CNN has just created an interactive website, not a news story. What's more, they've put their efforts into something that, frankly, isn't very newsworthy or relevant for most people. Somewhat of a novelty for me, and not much more.

If it bleeds, it leads. Slightly innovative journalistic technology.

A tour de force of presentation methods, this really gets the story across in a novel way. Even better, the menu buttons help to see the various elements in a well structured manner. It seems to have all the information that should be in a news story, and the sources are fairly well identified. Listening to the audio clips alone takes about 15 minutes.

This multimedia report about a serial killer showcases how new media can tell a factual story using video, text, graphics, audio and interactivity seldom found anywhere on any site of this quality and impact. Some key points: 1. CNN unfortunately devotes this type of investment in an admittedly engaging story in which African-Americans are depicted in stereotypical ways. 2. Imagine if we devoted this impressive journalistic effort to the subcrime (subprime) scandal. 3. There is still no indication anyone will pay for this high-quality reporting on the Web, without which all the interactivity in the world will be for naught.

Too sensationalized