El Mundo

El Mundo (Spain) is doing a breaking news graphic each day of the war. This is number sixteen. This graphic is about the conqest of the Saddam Airport. We had a lot of discussion on how to do the graphic, and lost some time as a result. But, I think we were able to come up with a very simple graphic.

We took a satellite image of the airport and gave it an isometric perspective. We then put in the invasion arrows according to the wire services. We put in the main runways, the direction to Bagdad, and so on.

On the other page we drew a map of Bagdad. I think maps are the most important thing during wars. So, we are doing a daily map showing where the conflict is. We added arrows showing where the troops were, and showed the key points in the city.

By using maps from the daily US Department of Defense News Release, we showed how the U.S.controls the country (by ground and by the air).

On the bottom part of the graphic, we did a simple diagram on how the 3rd. Infantry Division is bombing Bagdad from the West (left) and how the 1st. Marine Expeditionary Force is taking advantage from the East (right).

You can see all our interactive war graphics here: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/graficos/feb/s4/indexirak/index.html

All interactive graphics: http://www.elmundo.es/graficos/multimedia/