Rachael Gleason

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what value does a map hold?

As a journalist, I often turn to my background in geography for story ideas and elements to supplement complicated stories. Most data can be a big yawn. But display it on map with colored icons, and watch it come to life.

Most of my colleagues are aware of my love affair with mashups, or interactive maps like those found on Google.

Last year, I developed a mashup of coal-fired power plants in the Great Lakes for a Cleaning Coal series. The mashup showed how many plants are violating federal wastewater discharge standards through colored icons on a map. I also have a standing feature called Monday Mashup, where I profile mashups with a Great Lakes focus.

Finding a particularly interesting mashup is always a cause for celebration. The United States Environment Protection Agency mapped its 2009 enforcement record for the first time this year. It’s exciting to see agencies experimenting with interactive maps to improve management, or even for fun. The Earth Sandwich mashup proves someone out there still has a sense of humor.

Great Lakes Echo launched a mashup contest last year — the person who creates or submits the best mashup of the week gets a prize.

I expected fellow geography enthusiasts to step up to the plate with some awesome mashups. Sadly, Echo received no submissions. The contest is still open. Where are y’all?