Dignified Storytelling

About Dignified Storytelling

Bringing together storytellers from across sectors to discuss and shape guidance on storytelling practices that are built on deep respect, full transparency and social responsibility.

Many stories today lack authenticity, transparency, or are driven by ulterior motives which serve a predetermined narrative. These are just some of the few obstacles that get in the way of honest, wholesome and dignified storytelling within development and humanitarian contexts. In order for a piece – be it visual, written or spoken – to reach an audience, it goes through a long process of filtration, revising and editing that sometimes alters the original content and makes it almost fictional. This in turn, ends up painting the wrong picture of the contributors who oftentimes are not aware of where their stories, visual or written, will be displayed and to what purpose will they be used.

Group team photo taken at the Dignified Storytelling Forum, Expo2020 Dubai

Loletekia, Uganda: Members of several pastoralist communities walks on their way to an inter-community peace talks meeting. Credit: FAO

The Pledge

Become a Dignified Storyteller. Join the movement.

Join us and let’s together tackle irresponsible storytelling, a practice that has been left unaddressed for far too long. The Dignified Storytelling Pledge is a voluntary commitment by individuals and organizations to contribute to positive change by pledging to tell stories characterized by deep respect, full transparency, and social responsibility.

500

pledges, and counting

The Dignified Storytelling Handbook

A resource to help storytellers and organizations promote and employ

storytelling practices that are grounded in a deep respect for human dignity

Available for download in English, Arabic, Spanish and French

Dignified Storytelling Principles

The 10 Dignified Storytelling Principles – developed in collaboration with Alliance Members, Advisors and Strategic Partners – anchor the entire movement and guide it for years to come.

Hear from Dignified Storytellers

"Within our ever changing world, and technology crossing all barriers in deploying information, the only constant that we strive for is the integrity of the story and maintaining the dignity of those involved."

Nassib Boueri CEO, Wunderman Thompson MENA

"I support Dignified Storytelling in its mission to place respect for human dignity at the heart of the stories being told. It is my greatest belief that respect must always be the starting point for creating socially responsible stories."

Elisabetta Illy Goodwill Ambassador, UNIDO

"We, as in the case with all storytellers have a responsibility to ensure that the stories we tell are anchored in human dignity."

Maher NasserDirector of Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Global Communications

"We believe in the power of humans to change our world. With this comes the responsibility to uphold the dignity of all people. We have taken the Dignified Storytelling pledge to commit to dignity in all forms of storytelling we use."

Greg ViljoenCEO & Founder, Bigger Than Me

"Stories bereft of human dignity are weapons to maim and destroy but when centred around human dignity are tools to mend and build."

Chief MoomenGhanaian poet and playwright

"As someone who is passionate about the importance of visual language, I have seen how the marginalized and vulnerable can be exploited in the pursuit of the visual message. I believe we all need to take conscious steps to ensure we uphold human dignity in the visual stories we tell."

Dr. Rebecca SwiftGlobal Head of Creative Insights, Getty Images

"Our values closely align with the Dignified Storytelling initiative which offers an actionable framework on how we can represent individuals from marginalized groups fairly, without harming their dignity in any way."

Ingrid Orozco CEO, Ulead