its not my story
Credit: Edson Vandeira
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Dignified Storytelling amplifies contributors’ voices and experiences, honouring their wishes on what story is told and how it is told.
Respecting the inherent dignity and full humanity of contributors is at the heart of dignified storytelling. Contributors should be considered and treated as equal partners and co-creators throughout the storytelling process with the goal of elevating their voices and perspectives. They are the experts in their own stories.
Prioritising the active involvement of contributors means encouraging their participation at all stages of the process – from story planning to development to publication. Taking the time to build relationships and work with contributors acknowledges that each individual is a whole person with agency in their story.
Getting to know their story is part of showing the respect and care that each person deserves; it can also help content gatherers to better understand the context and people involved, resulting in more effective, impactful – and perhaps surprising – stories.
Eunice carries her child in the opening shot of Mama Kwanza (The Good Side)
To move away from predictable narratives requires an openness to hearing new and different stories. Building some flexibility into content gathering plans can leave room for listening more deeply and openly to contributors’ wishes and the stories they tell.
If the content gatherer is coming from outside the community or country, working with contributors through community-based partners and local creatives is one way to build longer term relationships with potentially smoother communication through a common language and cultural background. All partners and potential contributors need to feel comfortable challenging story ideas or content-gathering practices that may be too risky for contributors or are potentially relationship-damaging.
Contributors are more than a case study or “sound bite” and can be insightful and powerful spokespeople for issues; indeed, communications in development should enable people to consider and speak out on issues that are important to their lives (source: Bond People in the Pictures Group, “Putting the People in the Pictures First: Ethical guidelines for the collection and use of content (images and stories)”, (London: Bond, 2019) and United Nations, “Communications for Development: Strengthening the Effectiveness of the United Nations” (New York: UNDP, 2011).
To realise the active involvement of contributors requires that storytellers work closely with contributors a step at a time – actively and openly listening, providing technical advice, and ensuring that safety measures, including social and emotional support, are in place.
Guidelines for Principle No. 1:
Dignified storytelling amplifies contributors’ voices and experiences, honouring their wishes on what story is told and how it is told.
TO HELP PUT PRINCIPLE #1 INTO PRACTICE, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
Plan for the fact that you don’t know exactly what story you will be telling before you get there, approaching each assignment ready to listen to contributors and to discover the narrative with them.
ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF SELF-REFLECTION
When story gathering, adopt an attitude of self-reflection and openness to hearing new stories. All stories begin with listening, and content gathering should be pursued from a place of humility, kindness, and curiosity.
USE LANGUAGE THAT CONTRIBUTORS UNDERSTAND
All communication with potential contributors needs to be in a language they understand, using vocabulary that is easy to comprehend, and in a setting where they feel comfortable. Communication from contributors to the story gatherer should also be in a language that the contributors feel comfortable using, with culturally appropriate interpretation as needed.
BUILD TIME INTO STORYTELLING WORKPLANS
Build time into storytelling workplans to be able to move forward at the pace of the contributors. Informed, full, and freely given consent processes take time. It also takes time for people to tell their own stories, particularly if it is their first opportunity to craft and tell their story.
BRING CONTRIBUTORS INTO THE DECISIONS
Bring contributors into decision-making processes and let them determine how to present themselves.
For example, discuss contributors’ preferences on the time and place for interviews that are comfortable and convenient for them. Contributors should have a say in how they would like to be photographed or interviewed in terms of their clothing, the emotion(s) depicted, the location, and the overall narrative arch or tone.
During story development and finalisation, seek contributor perspectives on the design and selection of the images, captions, and/or quotes that are used.
USE CONTRIBUTORS’ VERBATIM WORDS
Whenever possible, use contributors’ verbatim words and voice in story messaging and captioning.
Create a safe space for people to tell their stories by putting in place appropriate safeguarding measures, in part by ensuring that social emotional support is available for contributors if needed, ideally through local service providers or community groups.
Note: Safeguarding within development and humanitarian sectors generally refers to the steps taken to protect people from any harm – including all forms of exploitation, abuse, harassment, or socio-emotional distress – that may come from contact with an organisation’s staff or programmes.
Engage with contributors to assess any challenges that may be preventing them from telling their stories. Where gaps in skills or confidence are identified, take steps to address these barriers; for example, perhaps through storytelling training, whether provided formally or informally, directly or in connection with local content creators or organisations.
CONSIDER WAYS TO RECOGNIZE CONTRIBUTORS
Carefully consider ways to recognise contributors for their time and work through means that are not exploitative and that do not reinforce an unequal power dynamic between storyteller and contributor.
Compensation may be appropriate in some situations, where in others it could run the risk of impacting consent, expectations, or authenticity.
- For many reasons, organisations generally avoid financial compensation for story sharing; it can unduly influence the story that is told and may result in contributors feeling indebted to the organisation. In some cases, however, a contributor may be engaged by an organisation in a longer term role requiring significant time and effort, in which case financial or in-kind compensation is likely appropriate.
- There are ways that organisations and storytellers can and should demonstrate gratitude for contributors; for example, through appropriate acknowledgements and recognition as agreed upon with the contributor, sharing back final products, and taking care that contributors’ needs are met during the story gathering.
- Do not confuse the question of appropriate recognition measures with the right to receive services. A potential contributor’s decision on whether to participate in a request for a story should never impact their ability to participate in an organisation’s programmes, or to receive services or aid.
SHOWCASE THE VOICES OF LOCAL CONTENT CRAETORS
Look for opportunities to showcase the voices of local content creators – including artists, writers, and journalists – by hiring them or by using your platform or network to showcase their work.
Note: There are many databases available to locate diverse talent pools based in countries around the world; for example:
Women Photograph
The Everyday Projects
Women Who Draw
African Photojournalism Database
Top Tips for Principle No. 1
Involve contributors
Involve contributors as co-creators in the story-making, working closely with them to determine what story is told and how it is told.
Pass the microphone
Find ways to “pass the microphone” to contributors so that their voices are not appropriated, silenced, or controlled. To do this requires creating a safe space for their stories and, often, some degree of training or confidence-building.
More in the Handbook
The Dignified Storytelling Handbook is 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