Create compelling multimedia narratives
The Story Map Journal℠ app template is ideal when you want to combine narrative text with maps and other content. A Map Journal contains entries, called sections, that your readers can simply scroll through. Each section in a Map Journal has an associated map, image, video or web page. 'Story actions' can also be defined in the narrative text so that, for example, clicking a word automatically zooms the section's map to a particular location.
Layout options
Side Panel
Floating Panel
Get inspired!
The Story Map Journal format is simple but very flexible. A Map Journal may present a story based around just one map. Or it may take users through multiple maps and associated images and videos to provide them with engaging, in-depth information. Browse our gallery to see how storytellers are putting the Map Journal layout options and other capabilities to work.
Explore the Story Map Journal gallery
Build your story!
Your story is automatically hosted on ArcGIS Online.
Tutorial
Build story
FAQs
Blog posts
Learn ArcGIS online lesson
You create your Map Journal with an interactive builder
Host it yourself
Story Map apps are open source, so you have the option to host an app on your own web server. For example, you may want to give your story a custom URL, or make styling changes beyond what is possible with our authoring tools. If you're a developer, you can get the source code on GitHub to do more advanced customization. See the introduction below for step-by-step instructions, and visit our Developers’ Corner for customization tips and ideas.
Download the ready-to-deploy app
Get the source code on GitHub
Introduction to hosting a Story Map app
Story Maps Developers' Corner
Participate!
Let us know what you think about the Map Journal app. Your feedback is appreciated.