Introduction
The Internet has changed our lives. Digital tools are transforming the way we relate and communicate, also affecting the field of human rights advocacy and activism for social, political or environmental change. It is essential for those who want to influence their environment and promote change to be aware of digital tools and how to combine them with traditional methods of mobilization and protest.
In this context, storytelling continues to play a fundamental role as a vehicle for conveying messages, making connections and provoking reactions in others. In the digital era, storytelling increasingly involves a strategic use of digital spaces.
This training seeks to initiate participants in the strategic use of digital storytelling, through a combination of theoretical concepts aimed at understanding its evolution and current state with practical examples that illustrate how it works.
Learning objectives
- To understand the relevance of storytelling in the defense of human rights and advocacy for social, political or environmental change, as well as its evolution with the rise of the Internet and social networks.
- Recognize the potential of personal and community narratives and the importance of representation (of different collectives, communities…).
- Become familiar with the main digital platforms, including their main strengths and limitations.
- Learn to identify target audiences, connecting them with objectives to effectively engage them.
- Managing the balance between the need for attention and the need for context, overview, and rigor.
- Understand the ethical implications of digital storytelling, including privacy and security issues.
- Encourage collaboration among participants to create a network of mutual support.
Core readings
- Jennifer Radloff , “The Internet of Memory: ‘to Hell with Facts! We Need Stories!‘ | Association for Progressive Communications,” www.apc.org, August 3, 2017, .
- Annique Mossou and Ross Higins, “A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media Verification” bellingcat, November 1, 2021.
Curriculum
- 7 Sections
- 16 Lessons
- 5 Hours
- 1. Digital Storytelling. Key conceptsIn the digital era, storytelling increasingly involves a strategic use of digital tools. Let's get to know them, with their advantages and disadvantages, their benefits and risks.4
- 2. The digital era. Acceleration and predominance of the visual. Characteristics of effective digital storytellingAfter the previous lesson, in which we talked about the attention economy and attention as an increasingly scarce resource, where are we today?6
- 2.02.1. Predominance of the visual
- 2.12.2. Information acceleration
- 2.22.3. Risks of acceleration and the predominance of the visual
- 2.32.4. How to manage in these spaces while minimizing risks?
- 2.42.5. Characteristics of effective digital storytelling
- 2.5Exercise 2: Effective storytelling. Analyze the characteristics of the #Women2Drive campaign videos
- 3. Understanding the digital spaces for an effective storytellingBefore choosing tools and platforms for our storytelling, let's get to know digital spaces a little better.2
- 4. Basics of storytellingBasics of storytelling, starting with objectives and audiences2
- 5. Case Study: Syrian Families for FreedomThe case study is about the Syrian Families for Freedom project. This project stands out as an example of digital storytelling oriented to the defense of human rights and advocacy for social and political change. Based on the concepts, strategies and tools acquired in this training, develop a review of this digital storytelling incorporating your own reflections.1
- Final Quiz1
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