What is Digital Storytelling for policy change?
Welcome to the Digital Story Policy Lab! Drawing from our innovative and culturally centered approaches for engagement, we aim to activate communication power by supporting community teams to build place-based, solutions-centered multimedia stories. The intention is to provide the technical skills needed to expand beyond practice to reach systems and policy change through community-led multimedia production.
Digital storytelling for policy change is a powerful tool that shifts messages about communities that are often misrepresented and marginalized in mainstream narratives. Through this approach, cultural assets and resilience are emphasized while strategies for systems and policy action are identified. By using digital stories, knowledge can be shared and the voices of communities can be elevated, making it an important communication strategy. Additionally, equity in media production redistributes power, allowing for a more balanced representation of communities and their experiences.
When planning to create a storyboard for a short video, there are several steps to follow. The first step is to write a narrative and create a storyboard based on your policy issue. You should consider what the problem looks and sounds like, what the solution looks and feels like, and how you can co-create the narrative with your community circles.
This is an opportunity to develop a narrative from your policy brief. As you develop your narrative, think about why your issue needs policy attention and about the consequences of inaction and/or action. Begin with a statement that gets your audience’s attention and then lead into your policy story.
Photography communicates emotion. It can bring attention to community issues that need policy change. Usually, outsiders define what is important through their own lens. This is an opportunity for you to define the frame and tell your community’s policy story through photography.
Clear and crisp audio is essential, especially when recording narratives and interviews. Quality audio influences audiences to judge your message as trustworthy. Clear audio is key to the success of your digital story, so take time to listen to your environment and make informed decisions on how and where you will record audio.
Graphic design can uplift your message and highlight key policy points. Great design can influence decision-making and influence choice with images that resonate. This is an opportunity to turn your ideas into images and communicate complex messages quickly and effectively. Think about working to match your design elements with the overall visual tone of your story.
Creating video content is a powerful way to share important information and research in an engaging and impactful manner. Video content can convey complex ideas and data in an easily understandable and engaging format, particularly for social justice topics and policy issues. By using visual aids such as animations, infographics, and real-life examples, video content can effectively communicate complex concepts. Additionally, video content allows us to connect with new audiences, expand our reach, and promote positive change towards a more just and equitable society.