The popularity of the image-based social media site Pinterest is making it hard for publishers of any kind to ignore. Savvy news publications, nonprofits, and companies are using Pinterest boards to aggregate and catalog research tools creatively. Just like Facebook stopped being just for college students a while back, Pinterest is quickly being used by more than online shoppers.

What’s so special?

Boards allow you to mix your own content with reposted content that you want to feature without dealing with the legal dilemma of copyrights and photo credits that plague blogging platforms. For writers and editors, a.k.a “word people,” Pinterest offers a nice-looking platform where even the geekiest content (infographics, charts, and maps) can be displayed with a sexy look.

Having surpassed Tumblr and expected to overtake LinkedIn in popularity this year, Pinterest recently received yet another round of funding and launched its new look. You should care because your readers and potential collaborators are pinning away.

What should inspire you?

“Pro Publica,” beyond being one of the most dogged sources of investigative journalism out there, also has a solid, useful Pinterest account (under the cute catchphrase, “Journalism in the Public (P)interest.”). The organization’s boards cull resources, exhibit its projects, and even give a face to its operations.

The feminist “Ms.” magazine uses Pinterest to answer a simple and relevant question for their readership, “Where are all the millennial feminists?” The board is a comprehensive answer, detailing the struggles and accomplishments of young feminists around the world. The board tells a story, as well as gives due credit to the many different projects it links back to.

A smaller, more personal endeavor is my board, Raw Data Resource, where my collaborators and pin useful data sources. From campaign finance disclosure records to the Holocaust victims search tool, the board is a starting point for any numbers-based writing.

Learn more about Candice at www.candicenovak.com.