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5 Best Graphical Abstract Tools & Services in 2026

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5 Best Graphical Abstract Tools & Services in 2026

If you need to make a graphical abstract, the best options are the services by Editage, Wiley Editing Services, Taylor & Francis Editing Services, etc. Or you can use tools like BioRender, Mind the Graph, etc. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each graphical abstract service and tool, enabling you to find the option that meets your needs best.

What is a graphical abstract?

A graphical abstract is a visual summary of the main findings of a research paper. It’s required by many journals, including Elsevier and Cell Press journals. A graphical abstract

  • Makes it easier for readers to understand and retain key findings
  • Makes the paper stand out among others
  • Increases views, clicks, and citations of the paper

Top Graphical Abstract Services

Editage

Best for: All STEM researchers, including those with zero design experience

With 20+ years of expertise in scholarly communication and illustration design, Editage creates compelling, high-quality graphical abstracts across fields. Even better, you don’t need to provide any sketch of your own; just submit your full paper and get a graphical abstract tailored to your journal’s specifications. You retain copyright of the finished graphic and can share it freely without any permission required.

Price: USD 149 onwards

Turnaround time: 4 days

Wiley Editing Services

Best for: Researchers looking to boost the visibility of their papers and stand out from the crowd

Wiley Editing Services employs a multidisciplinary team of scientific illustrators and design experts to create graphical abstracts. They provide several samples for you to view on their website, and you make payment for your own graphical abstract only after you have reviewed and approved it.

Price: USD 350 onwards

Turnaround time: 5 days

Taylor & Francis Editing Services

Best for: Researchers with high-impact papers that they are eager to promote and share

Taylor & Francis Editing Services offers you two options: graphical abstracts and research infographics. The latter are more expensive and better suited for conference presentations, though. An advantage of Taylor & Francis’ service is that graphical abstracts are linked to the DOI of your published article via a hyperlink and/or QR code.

Price: USD 399 onwards

Turnaround time: 5 business days

Pubrica

Best for: Researchers with strong design preferences or niche research topics

Pubrica’s graphical abstract service requires a bit more input from you compared to the others listed above: you have to fill in a customized questionnaire along with submitting your manuscript. You also need to review and approve the first draft of the graphical abstract before you get the final version. An advantage of Pubrica is that you also get the working file of the graphical abstract in Adobe, not just the final JPEG/TIFF/etc. You even get the option of a 3D graphical abstract (though most journals ask for 2D graphical abstracts).

Price: USD 150-250

Turnaround time: 5+ days (depending on promptness of your response)

Springer Nature Research Solutions

Best for: Researchers eager to improve their visibility on multiple platforms

These graphical abstracts are perfect for sharing on social media, in presentations, or for journal submission. The company takes significantly longer than others to deliver a graphical abstract (10 business days) but allows you one round of revisions for free. It also has a very easy submission form, with space to share your comments and preferences about your graphical abstract.

Price: ~USD 350

Turnaround time: 10 business days

Top Graphical Abstract Tools

If you’ve good design skills and experience in creating your own graphics, you can try out the following tools:

Mind the Graph

Best for: Medical and life sciences researchers on a tight budget

This tool offers you 75,000+ free scientific illustrations and vector graphics that you can use in up to 4 projects. Paid plans allow you to get watermark-free illustrations and also request customized illustrations, as well as access to 300+ professionally designed templates.

Pricing: USD 5-9 per month (if billed annually)

BioRender

Best for: Biology and life sciences researchers working on cutting-edge technology

BioRender’s library of illustrations covers everything from human anatomy to nucleic acids, cell structures, and proteins. The basic version is free, but you can export your project only in low resolution, without permission for commercial use or publication. You’ll need the paid plan to create graphical abstracts suitable for journal submission.

Price: USD 35 per month

Adobe Illustrator

Best for: Researchers who can get free help from a professional designer

A state-of-the-art design tool, perfect for professional designers at top-tier journals. Unfortunately, Illustrator has a steep learning curve and is not beginner-friendly. Hence, I wouldn’t recommend it for researchers who don’t have a designer friend.

Price: ~USD 22 per month if billed annually

Canva

Best for: Researchers and students looking to add some zing to non-academic communication

Canva is a popular, beginner-friendly online design tool. It’s not tailored for scientific images, though, so it can be tricky to get accurate illustrations for your graphical abstract. However, it’s great for creating stunning visuals to accompany presentations, cover page designs, etc.

Price: USD 12-15 per month for Pro version (single user)

Inkscape

Best for: Researchers who have previously worked with vector graphics and who have multiple projects

Inkscape is a free vector graphics editor software. Like Canva, it can be used for a variety of graphics and images but is not designed specifically for scholarly communication. The advantage of Inkscape, however, is that you can customize almost every aspect of its user interface, including even keyboard shortcuts. This makes Inkscape convenient when you have a series of design projects.

Price: Free

Bottom line: should I use a graphical abstract service or a tool?

Use a graphical abstract service if you are short on time, have no/limited design experience, or are submitting your paper to a top-tier journal with high standards.

Use a tool to create a graphical abstract if you have a tight budget, are comfortable with design, or have flexible timelines for submission.

Jason Whitlock: WWE President Nick Khan Is the “Silver Bullet” To Save College Sports

BSM Staff
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Jason Whitlock: WWE President Nick Khan Is the “Silver Bullet” To Save College Sports

Jason Whitlock has a bold idea to fix college sports. The Blaze host used Thursday’s edition of Fearless to make his case — and his answer might surprise you.

Whitlock wants WWE President Nick Khan running college football.

“Nick Khan, the head of the WWE, the guy that replaced Vince McMahon, is the silver bullet for college football and perhaps all of college sports,” Whitlock declared.

Khan has orchestrated WWE’s massive media rights deals and business transformation with TKO Holdings in recent years. Whitlock believes that same vision could reshape the NCAA entirely.

He didn’t stop there. Whitlock argued Khan wouldn’t just improve college sports — he’d place college sports past the success the NFL.

“College football would not trail the NFL for long,” Whitlock said. “Nick Khan would transform the NCAA into the most powerful force, most profitable force in all of American sports. Nick Khan would leave the NFL and Roger Goodell in his dust.”

Strong words. But Whitlock backed them up with even stronger praise.

He called Khan the smartest sports executive he’s encountered — outranking everyone. That list includes ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro, former ESPN chief John Skipper, and FOX Sports boss Eric Shanks.

“Nick Khan is a brilliant man. He is the smartest man that I’ve ever met in the world of sports,” Whitlock said. “And just keep in mind, I’ve met everybody.”

College sports faces real challenges — NIL chaos, conference realignment, and a broken revenue model. The issue has been in the forefront lately as The White House has began looking into the issue with several commissions to address the issue.

Whitlock clearly believes one executive holds the answers.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

iHeartMedia Names Christopher Layfield as VP Programming in Louisville

BNM Staff
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iHeartMedia Names Christopher Layfield as VP Programming in Louisville

iHeartMedia Louisville has a new Vice President of Programming. Christopher Layfield steps into the role effective immediately. Layfield will oversee programming for nine Louisville stations.

The cluster spans music, talk, and news formats. He reports directly to Kristy Beebee, Area President for iHeartMedia Louisville. Beebee wasted no time singing his praises.

“Christopher brings an exceptional track record of leadership, creativity and strategic vision. He will be a tremendous asset to our teams and listeners,” said Beebee. “Louisville is a dynamic, growing market, and we’re excited to see the impact he’ll make as we continue to elevate and strengthen our brands, talent and community connections.”

Layfield comes to Louisville from Cumulus. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Programming for Indianapolis. His resume also includes Program Director stops at WHQC and WLKO in Charlotte, KSLZ in St. Louis, and WRVQ in Richmond — all for iHeartMedia.

Layfield shared his excitement about joining the Louisville cluster.

“We have a dynamic collection of brands in Louisville that engage, inform and entertain audiences, while also serving and supporting our advertising partners with unrivaled content and capabilities,” said Layfield. “I feel fortunate to join such a talented team driving ongoing success and look forward to leading with continued creativity, collaboration, innovation and fun.”

The company operates broadcast stations, live events, and a robust digital footprint. That includes iHeartRadio, its free all-in-one streaming and podcast platform available on 2,000-plus devices.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Fred Show Takes Morning Drive at Hot 99.5 and Z104.3 After Exit of Intern John

David Hill
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The Fred Show Takes Morning Drive at Hot 99.5 and Z104.3 After Exit of Intern John

iHeartMedia Washington D.C. & Baltimore made it official today. The Fred Show, Premiere Networks’ nationally syndicated morning program, lands on Hot 99.5 and Z104.3 starting April 30. Listeners catch it live on weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m.

The show first launched in 2011. Fred leads a cast that includes Kaelin, Keke, Paulina, Showbiz Shelly, and Jason Brown. The chemistry and unpredictability keep fans loyal. Veteran morning host Rose stays on alongside The Fred Show.

Fred didn’t hold back his excitement: “I still can’t believe the call,” he said. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of mornings in DC and Baltimore. These cities and stations are home to a legacy of remarkable voices, and we’re honored for the chance to earn our place among them.”

Jeff Kapugi, Region Senior Vice President of Programming, also weighed in.

“We’re thrilled to welcome The Fred Show to Hot 99.5 and Z104.3,” Kapugi said. “We’ve been fans for years, and we can’t wait for our audience to discover the energy, humor, and connection that make this show so special.”

The move follows iHeartMedia’s recent programming shakeup across both stations. Intern John exited HOT 99.5 and Z104.3 earlier this month amid a broader company-wide round of layoffs.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026: AM/FM Radio Listening Hits All-Time Low as Digital Surges to 44%

BNM Staff
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Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026: AM/FM Radio Listening Hits All-Time Low as Digital Surges to 44%

The divide between traditional AM/FM Radio listening and digital consumption of radio station content is shrinking — and new data from the Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026 makes that trend impossible to ignore.

For the first time in the survey’s history, broadcast listening has fallen to 54% of total time spent listening on a terrestrial radio station, while digital platforms now account for 44%. That’s a 10-point gap — down from 15 points just one year ago.

“Broadcast is still ahead, but not by much,” Jacobs said. “Last year, broadcast was five points higher, and digital was five points lower. So there’s been meaningful movement this year.”

The longer view is even more striking. Back in 2013, when Jacobs Media first asked this question in its current form, 85% of P1 listening happened on traditional radio. Digital sat at just 14%. That’s a 71-point gap. Today, it’s 10.

“This chart tells a powerful story,” the Jacobs Media President said. “In 2013, the gap between broadcast and digital was 71 points. Today, it’s just 10 points.”

It’s worth noting what “digital” actually captures. The 44% figure includes computer streaming (12%), mobile apps (9%), smart speakers (4%), podcasts (2%), and smart TVs (2%). Meanwhile, broadcast’s 54% combines car listening — still the largest single platform at 37% — with radio at home, work, or school at 17%.

Photo: Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026

The demographic breakdown reveals where the real pressure is building. Gen Z has already crossed over — digital now edges broadcast 49% to 48% among that group. Millennials are close behind, with broadcast holding a slim 52–46 advantage. Gen X listeners show a similar split at 51–47.

“When we break this out by demographics, some clear patterns emerge,” said Jacobs. “Gen Z is now slightly ahead on digital, by one percentage point.”

Older listeners, by contrast, still skew heavily toward over-the-air. Boomers favor broadcast 57% to 41%, and the Greatest Generation leans even more traditional at 69% broadcast versus 28% digital.

Photo: Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026

Format also plays a major role in how that split shakes out.

Among the formats surveyed, CHR shows the highest digital usage on the first slide — 43% digital versus 54% broadcast.

AC, Classic Rock, Classic Hits, and Country all sit in a similar range, with broadcast holding leads between 59% and 63%.

(Photo: Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026)

Sports radio, though, tells a completely different story. It’s the only format where digital has lapped broadcast — 56% to 42%.

“Sports fans are voracious,” Jacobs shared. “They want constant updates. They use every device available — cars, phones, and more.”

News/Talk, meanwhile, remains the format most anchored to traditional radio, with broadcast at 59% and digital at 37%. Hot AC sits nearly even at 51% broadcast and 47% digital, while Rock comes in at 55–41 in favor of broadcast.

(Photo: Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026)

“The train isn’t leaving the station,” stated Jacobs. “It left quite a while ago.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

NBC Sports Executive Waiting on NFL To Discuss Media Rights Agreement

BSM Staff
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NBC Sports Executive Waiting on NFL To Discuss Media Rights Agreement

NBC Sports is waiting on the NFL to make the first move. Jon Miller, President of Acquisitions and Partnerships for NBC Sports, addressed the league’s media rights future on The Varsity Podcast with Jon Ourand.

Miller made clear the NFL controls the timeline for any discussions with NBC Sports.

“The NFL is obviously a hugely important part of our ecosystem. We’ve been very proud of our relationship with them, and obviously the success speaks for itself,” said Miller. “At the right time, when the NFL decides that they want to have a conversation with us, our leadership will sit down with them.”

While the NFL has publicly stated a desire to renegotiate current league rights agreements with its partners, NBC has yet to have that meeting. As for where talks stand now, Miller says he’s watching from the sidelines. The NFL is reportedly in discussions with CBS. Those conversations stem from the network’s recent ownership change.

Miller acknowledged the uncertainty directly.

“I don’t know when the NFL is going to come to us.” He added that NBC’s leadership expects dialogue eventually. How it plays out remains to be seen.

NBC Sports isn’t sitting idle, though. Miller confirmed the network will pursue other rights opportunities as they emerge. Other properties will hit the market, and NBC plans to engage.

“There are other properties that we don’t have that will be coming to market as well. We’ll engage with all of them at the right time,” Miller said.

Miller kept his comments measured on how NFL talks might affect other negotiations.

“I don’t really have any idea of how the NFL negotiations will have an effect one way or another on any of those conversations,” said Miller.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

John Fanta Added to NBC Sports’ Coverage of the Kentucky Debry

BSM Staff
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John Fanta Added to NBC Sports’ Coverage of the Kentucky Debry

NBC Sports has a new face headed to Churchill Downs. John Fanta will join NBC’s coverage of the 2026 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2.

The broadcast begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. It marks Fanta’s first-ever trip to the Kentucky Derby.

Fanta will work as an on-site reporter, primarily stationed in the infield at Churchill Downs. His role focuses on capturing the electric atmosphere building toward the “Run for the Roses.”

NBC Sports supervising producer Lindsay Schanzer made the announcement and praised the fit.

“We’re excited to have John join our coverage at Churchill Downs, where his unbridled enthusiasm and effusive personality will be a perfect match with the spectators enjoying the racing and revelry from the infield,” said Schanzer.

Fanta sounds genuinely fired up about the assignment.

“There is simply nothing like the Kentucky Derby, and to join a team of horse racing legends and Emmy winners in NBC’s 26th presentation of an event that stands in a class of its own is thrilling and humbling,” Fanta said.

His Derby week starts Friday, May 1. Fanta joins Kentucky Oaks Day coverage at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN. He continues through primetime for the Kentucky Oaks at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

“It’s been an amazing first year with NBC Sports. I’m excited and honored to be taking on another new challenge and heading to Churchill Downs for the 152nd chapter of the longest continuously held sporting event in America,” said Fanta.

Fanta joined NBC Sports in August 2025 as lead BIG EAST basketball play-by-play voice. Moreoever, he also covered Big Ten, Big 12 basketball, and college football. In 2026, he made his NBA play-by-play debut, calling the Minnesota Timberwolves-Portland Trail Blazers game.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Prime Video Reveals WNBA Broadcaster Roster

BSM Staff
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Prime Video Reveals WNBA Broadcaster Roster

Prime Video is going big for the WNBA’s milestone 30th season. The streamer already announced Hall of Famers Swin Cash and Candace Parker, plus play-by-play voice Michael Grady. Now Prime has added a deep roster of talent to round out its coverage.

Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon join as analysts. Cooper led the Houston Comets to four straight titles from 1997-2000, earning Finals MVP each year. Weatherspoon was the league’s first-ever Defensive Player of the Year and made four WNBA Finals appearances with the New York Liberty.

Duke head coach Kara Lawson comes aboard as a game analyst. She also leads the U.S. Women’s National Team. LaChina Robinson joins after 16 years with ESPN covering women’s basketball and three Olympic Games. Lindsey Harding, currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, adds a unique dual-league perspective in studio.

Lisa Byington and Mike Watts handle play-by-play duties. Byington made history in 2021 as the first woman to serve as full-time TV play-by-play announcer for a major men’s professional team with the Milwaukee Bucks. Allie Clifton steps up as studio host for pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage.

Amina Hussein, Prime Sports Head of On-Air Talent and Development, summed up the vision clearly. “We’ve built a team that brings together championship experience, broadcasting excellence, and fresh perspectives,” she said.

Coverage kicks off May 14 with a doubleheader as the Minnesota Lynx face Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. ET. The New York Liberty then take on the Portland Fire at 10 p.m.

Prime streams 30 regular-season games exclusively this season, plus postseason coverage across more than 220 countries.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Dan Bongino Show Finishes March Near Top of Triton Digital Podcast Rankings

BNM Staff
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The Dan Bongino Show Finishes March Near Top of Triton Digital Podcast Rankings

March marked the second full month since The Dan Bongino Show had returned. It was another strong finish for the show in the Triton Digital rankings.

During the month, The Dan Bongino Show finished third in the Top Podcasts By Weekly Average Downloads rankings. February marked Bongino’s return after spending just under one year as the Deputy Director of the FBI.

Only Stuff You Should Know and Pod Save America finished above Bongino’s program. Those two shows flipped positions from the prior month. Stuff You Should Know finished the month on top.

Elsewhere, Global News Podcast from the BBC finished one spot behind Dan Bongino in fourth. The Bulwark Podcast moved up one position to seventh, while Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar moved up five spots to 10th.

There were also changes in spots 10th through 20th, as The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show dropped one position to 13th. Additionally, The Charlie Kirk Show fell eight positions to 14th overall. Armstrong & Getty On Demand moved up one position to earn 15th place. Bulwark Takes jumped two spots to 18th.

In the Top Sales Networks by Weekly Average Downloads category, iHeartAudience Network remained in the top slot. It bested Audioboom, Cumulus Podcast Network, BBC, and PRX in the top five.

Salem Podcast Network dropped one position to sixth. American Public Media Group (7th), Lemonada Media (8th), Gamut Podcast Network (9th), and All Things Comedy (10th) rounded out the remaining top 10.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Spotify Reveals Biggest Songs and Artists After 20 Years

David Hill
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Spotify Reveals Biggest Songs and Artists After 20 Years

Spotify is celebrating its 20th anniversary by revealing the most-streamed musicians and songs of all time on the platform.

Taylor Swift tops the most-streamed artists list. Bad Bunny comes in at number two, followed by Drake, The Weeknd, and Ariana Grande. The full top 20 includes Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Eminem, and Kanye West.

On the song side, The Weeknd dominates. “Blinding Lights” ranks as the most-streamed track in Spotify history. Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” is second. “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood checks in at third.

Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti holds the top spot on Spotify among albums. The Weeknd’s Starboy is second. Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Deluxe) rounds out the top three.

The podcast rankings tell a clear story. The Joe Rogan Experience sits at number one — by a wide margin, most likely. Crime Junkie, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, and The Daily also crack the top six.

On the audiobook side, Sarah J. Maas owns the list. Three of her A Court of Thorns and Roses series titles land in the top seven. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring grabs second place. Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing takes third.

Photo: Spotify

The data covers global Spotify streams through April 2026.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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