storytelling
2009 NTC Preview: Roger Burks on Storytelling
Rational as I wish I were, I know it's not really facts and figures -- or logic -- that does most of my decision-making. In every decision I make, there is some element of emotion at play. Despite what you think, you're the same. Why, then, do most of us feel compelled to list bullet points of facts on our web sites and in our emails?
If our stakeholders are looking for confirmation, not information, it seems to me we need to refocus on the fine art of storytelling.
Somewhere along the way, we became more obsessed with exactly how high Icarus was flying when he fell than with telling the story of Icarus. That's a concept Roger Burks has been putting into practice at Mercy Corps. During his travels, he worries less about how many people are being served than about telling their stories.
The result? Compelling messages that make the work of Mercy Corps seem more real than any list of figures. Roger shared a little of his philosophy, the basis of his session at the 2009 NTC, "Better Online Storytelling", upon his return from a trip to the Congo.
We Are Media: Who's Telling Your Story?
Flickr Photo: luiginterI used to give a workshop about storytelling in online mediums. Back then, it focused on email and websites -- that's all there really was. In true nerd fashion, my metaphor for the workshop was Star Wars.
But I digress. The main point of the workshop was to get folks to articulate an emotional need they could address with their stories. Stakeholders will act on our behalf only if they feel an emotional investment in the outcome. They have to want us to succeed.
This week in We Are Media, we're focusing on storytelling. The number of outlets for nonprofit stories has exploded: email, websites, blogs, video, photos, twitter and more are all part of our communications universe now.But the fundamentals remain the same: How do you tell a good story, despite the medium?
