STORYTELLING CONTENT How to effectively use a variety of media to inform readers/viewers/users WHAT IS STORYTELLING?
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images, [video] and sounds [often by improvisation or embellishment].
Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture and in every land as a means of entertainment, education, preservation of culture and in order to instill moral values.
Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include plot and characters, as well as the narrative point of view.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storytelling HOW IS PLOT USED?
Order of events
Linear Story Arc
Freytag’s pyramid
Exposition – Rising Action – Climax – Falling Action – Dénouement EXPOSITION
Linear Story Arc
Freytag’s pyramid
Exposition – Rising Action – Climax – Falling Action – Dénouement
Exposition is usually the introduction of place and character
Conflict is what drives the story forward into “Rising Action”
To journalists, “conflict” is the news peg, or reason for the story. RISING ACTION
Linear Story Arc
Freytag’s pyramid
Exposition – Rising Action – Climax – Falling Action – Dénouement
Raising Action keeps the reader interested in the story, and drives them to the “climax” or the twist/surprise that leads to the climax.
Don’t stop after the climax of the story. Move your reader/viewer/user into the “falling action” and the “dénouement.” CLIMAX
Linear Story Arc
Freytag’s pyramid
Exposition – Rising Action – Climax – Falling Action – Dénouement
Climax is the major moment or turning point in the story.
Journalistic stories often end at the climax or shortly after. It is seen as the final culmination of the story.
Climax should lead to resolution of the story FALLING ACTION
Linear Story Arc
Freytag’s pyramid
Exposition – Rising Action – Climax – Falling Action – Dénouement
After the climax is the “falling action,” that part of the story that shows the results of the conflict and the climax
Leads to the end of the story DÉNOUEMENT
Linear Story Arc
Freytag’s pyramid
Exposition – Rising Action – Climax – Falling Action – Dénouement
Dénouement ( dānoōˈmä ) is the conclusion of the story.
“Simply put, dénouement is the unraveling or untying of the complexities of the plot.” Source: Wikipedia
Might think of it as the “moral” of the story – the resolution that might lead to citizen or government action.
Example: The Search for Edna Lavilla WHICH MEDIUM FOR THE MESSAGE
Photographs – Emotions, Details, Low Overhead, Non-Linear. Requires visual and technical skills
Audio – Adds life to photos and video, Texture, Emotion. Requires technical skill, getting close to source
Video – Motion, “True” to life, Combines sight and sound. Requires technical skill, visual skill, editing skill, lots-o-time
Text – Details, Concepts, Processes, Emotions, Familiar. Requires writing skills, ability to think in chunks
Graphics – Help visualize numbers, concepts, locations, process. Requires artistic ability, computer skills, time MULTIMEDIA IDEAS
Non-linear storytelling
Think about how each medium contributes to the story
Think about how various platforms affect the story
Who is the audience AND who might be (alternate audience)?
Dissect the story to better plan coverage and presentation
Chunking and Alternative Story Forms ALTERNATIVE STORY FORMS
Polls & Surveys Schedules
fyi Box Definitions
Checklist Stats box
Quizzes Q & A
Infographics Illustrations
Maps
Adapted from “Maximize Coverage” from balfour SITE MAP
What are the components of the story: Who, What, Where?
How should the information be organized?
Navigation — go to any part of story from any page?
Website, phone, social media, blog, traditional media
Research for resources: maps, graphics, biographical info, documents, old pictures, archive audio or video (film) PHOTO STORIES
• W. Eugene Smith Country Doctor • W. Eugene Smith Nurse Midwife • NYT story on families in deployment • Brad Vest CPOY Documentary • Pulitzer — Feature Photography • Kickstarter Photo Projects RESOURCES
Digitalartwork.net Mercury News Photo Mediastorm.org InteractiveNarratives.org NPR.org CNN.com NPPA.org YouTube NewsU.org