The Power of Advocacy
Through Storytelling
Advocacy through story-telling has the power to affect change, but only if the actions are targeted and thoughtful. What is your story?
In this practical writing guide, we explore the step-by-step process of constructing your story through an advocacy lens.
Storytelling and Advocacy Writing Prompts
When beginning the writing process and engaging in activist-based story-telling, your narrative needs to be carefully structured to become meaningful and impactful. As you prepare to ‘Share Your Story’, please consider the following prompts:
1.(a) Introduce yourself and explain clearly and concisely why you are sharing your rental story – this ‘human approach’ creates connection between the issue and the person.
or
1.(b) Consider opening with a powerful, engaging quote about the devastating situation you are experiencing with direct reference to your situation and rights, then lead into your introduction.
2. Describe your situation with detail and accuracy, and cross-reference information to ensure that dates, relevance and impact are clear.
3. How has this situation impacted you? What other considerations have relevance that you can mention in relation to your finances, health (mental and physical), basic rights, employment, access to education/services, family needs etc.
4. Consider including references to laws/legislative or regulation codes that may be infringed in your circumstances, or back-up statistics from reputable and reliable sources.
5. What is your CTA (call to action)? A story that finishes with a powerful lasting thought and ‘targeted ask’ for change, has a sense of urgency and connects the body of work to the emotion and the need for fair and equitable access to services/treatment etc. The ‘ask’ can be personal, supporting legislative change, exposure/awareness of issue(s), or asking for direct action, such as completing a survey, attending public meetings or promoting a cause.
6. Once you have finished your ‘first draft’, sit with the copy for a while and come back to it fresh. Do an initial edit. Request another person to look over your work and offer any constructive feedback that may tighten the story-telling or clarify the messaging. Prepare for the next step in your specific advocacy.
Steps to focus on when preparing to write Your Story
How to write an edit an article for news (step by step guide)
Gather all relevant material and evidence and create a sorting system that works best for you. This may be a digital or hard copy file(s), a notebook, highlighter and pens, post-it notes, filing cabinet, desk caddies or labelled boxes, online file management systems, or a combination of all things.
Observing the ‘inverted pyramid of news writing’, the most important information, or ‘the grab’, goes at the top. Study all of your parts that will make up your story. (include graphic) Sift through your notes and find your best quotes that are well written, simple, but important and use them to tell the story with fact and emotion, backing up your information. Use them first.
You need a lot of colour and many shades to make a good article, great. One way to do this is powerful images - but another way is through many voices, or a single strong, empathic voice to highlight the cause.
If you are going to reference an issue, you must either know enough about it or speak to someone who does. So you can communicate your message clearly, you must have all the facts correct before you write.
If interviewing, aim for 3-5 questions, avoiding closed questions with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. If someone is reluctant to answer or you don’t get what you want, then it’s important to have extra information you can sift through. Don’t be afraid to follow up with a request for more. Always listen to the speaker.
Finish the piece strong and end with a brief summary that reminds readers of the points, and end with an ‘ask’ or a lasting message for more information or action to take.
Be ruthless in your edit and check, check, check. Get another person to check your work, or better yet, two people. Tired eyes don’t see errors, especially when it’s your own work.
Media and Storytelling relevance
Importance of getting published through the Media
• Brings Human Rights issues to the attention of people who may not have heard about them.
• Generates support for social justice and advocacy campaigns.
• Attracting new members, followers and advocates.
• Raising funds to support programs.
• Injecting important human rights messages into local debate and can help change community attitudes and perceptions about difficult subjects.
• What’s Next: Seek further assistance if needed and continue to advocate for others in this same situation by sharing your story.
• Know more about this story: Contact the team at connect@communitymattersmedia.org if you want to share your experience.
Reach Out!
We are located in the Perth Metro Area - South Metro, but can travel to location as needed and/or WFH in a digital capacity to best support the needs of the client and the team, and to not be limited by geographical location.
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