Helen Manson is the Chair of the Integral Dignity in Humanitarian Communications Working Group. The group, made up of seven Integral Members, has produced a Storyteller’s Guide which they are delighted to introduce you to in a free webinar. Here Helen shares with us more about this important area of dignity in humanitarian communications …
Why do you think this an important topic?
Bringing to life the work our organisations do through photos and stories has always been important. Doing that with dignity, truth and respect has also always been important. Knowing how to do that well is often where the gap is and this Guide aims to help close that gap.
What has inspired you the most in working together with other Integral Members on this Guide?
It was such a privilege to work with a cross functional team of inspiring women across multiple continents to bring together some of the latest and greatest best practice thinking in this space. The women that wrote the guide come from a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, and together I think we’ve produced something that can be used for many years to come.
What can people expect from the webinar?
My hope is that by the end of the webinar people will feel inspired, educated and empowered to capture the best possible stories and images they can in order to represent the participants in their programmes in a powerful and dignified way.
Can you give us any examples of how you have used the Guide?
At Tearfund New Zealand we have run a workshop for all our international Partners around the world using the Guide as our base. This helps upskill our Partners in key areas where perhaps it may be difficult to get good quality training in this niche field of humanitarian storytelling.
What is your vision for this area of dignity in humanitarian storytelling? Any hopes for the future?
Many of us will remember the days where there would be ads on TV and print ads in newspapers of children with flies on their bodies to “sell” an organisations work. Thank goodness we have come a long way from then! My hope is that as a global sector working to alleviate poverty, we will work harder than ever to represent the participants in our programmes as the incredibly brave and resilient people they are, that our images would give context and show dignity and respect, and that our stories and interviews would give a fuller picture. Together, we want the whole charity sector to rise and make sure all the content we produce is done to the very highest of standards.
Anything else you would like to say?
This free webinar is our gift to the wider body of charities and non-profits around the world that want to do the best they can to portray the people they serve with the utmost dignity and respect. It’s your practical how-to guide, and it’s open to everyone. Invite a friend, see you there!
This webinar will run twice on Wednesday 24th May – 6am and 8pm BST. Click here to register.
During this two-hour session, you will be introduced to the Integral Storyteller’s Guide and have the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A session with its authors. All participants will receive an electronic copy of the Guide.
The webinar will equip you with practical tips on photography and videography, as well as insights on informed consent. We will also look at the key interview questions that will help you accurately and respectfully convey the stories of the people and communities you work with.
This valuable learning experience is brought to you by Integral, an alliance of 21 leading Christian relief and development agencies who are dedicated to promoting ethics and dignity in humanitarian communications. We warmly invite you to join us!
