Thanks to the digital age, we live in a new era of storytelling and fundraising.
Whether through blogs, emails, social media or video, using story to highlight an organization’s impact is an engaging way to invite people into the good work being done. From the complexities of social issues to the benefits and downsides of nuanced solutions, great stories not only inspire but educate. Yet, all too often, organizations view stories as merely a way to raise funds. This reduces stories to a mere transaction, when they are so much more.
Stories have the power to show someone a mirror-image of their best self. To encourage people to hold on when going through difficult times. And to inspire others to act. Stories change our world.
We are a community of practitioners engaging the messy yet beautiful conversation around storytelling in the social impact space. At Ethical Storytelling, we believe people’s stories are more than emotion-generating machines. That story consumers are more than guzzlers of emotion. And that stories should always be constituent first, donor second. We aspire to tell stories that are truthful, nuanced, educational and empowering. Not just for donors or for branding, but because stories shape our humanity and our world.
This pledge is an aim to focus on the HOW not only the WHAT of the stories we may encounter – but maybe should not always tell – in the work we do.
As storytellers and non-profit practitioners shaping the way the world sees people’s lives:
We pledge to:
- Tell others’ stories the way we want our story told.
- Always put people first.
- Explain to constituents the purpose of the story, where it will be used and answer any questions they might have before photographing, filming or recording.
- Find an able translator if we speak different languages.
- Ask the constituent if they wish to be named or identified and act according to their wishes.
- Use all images and messages with the full understanding, participation and permission of the constituent or the constituent’s legal guardian.
- Uphold the dignity of our constituents through empowering imagery and messages that motivate engagement and inspire hope.
- Truthfully represent a situation or story to educate our audiences of the realities, complexities and nuances of the issues we advocate for.
- Not use images, footage or words that sensationalize or stereotype a person or a situation.
- Ask for feedback from our constituents and incorporate this feedback into the final story.
- Abide by international law, standards and protocols related to vulnerable persons, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
- Listen to our constituents’ voices and respect their decisions, story and journey.
- Hold a posture of humility and learning, recognizing that failures can be our biggest educators.
- Seek advice if we question whether a particular story, message or image is not in alignment with ethical storytelling practices.
- Not tell the story, despite the resources invested, when the story cannot be told with the integrity of this pledge.
- Take ownership of our responsibility to uphold integrity in our storytelling and messaging.
As a community of nonprofit practitioners and storytellers we commit to learning from the past and integrating a new standard of storytelling as we journey together into the future.