The Power of Digital Storytelling for Nonprofits - Presented by Greg Hofbauer, GroundWork Design

THE POWER OF DIGITAL STORYTELLINGGreg HofbauerSeptember 4th, 2012

-An introduction to Digital Storytelling-Look at a few examples-Discuss tips for telling your story-Review hardware and software options-Q & A

Today’s Agenda

Stories are a core component of human interaction Stories have been used throughout history

Religions Revolutions Civil Moments

Stories are all around us TV, Movies, and Radio programming and ads Literature Even Facebook

Stories are already in use by nonprofit organizations In-person presentations Print campaigns Annual reports

Story mediums have continually evolved over time

What is Digital Storytelling? Digital storytelling takes many forms. A combination of the age old art of

storytelling with technology to incorporate rich media (videos, images, audio, text, and more) and interactivity

Recreating the in-person story experience online with the addition of visual and historic information that tells a more encompassing tale than would otherwise be possible

There are unique advantages to leveraging Digital Storytelling Reach a wider audience

Social networks help your stories travel further than ever

Tell your story 24x7 Represent your organization even when you’re sleeping

Multiply the efforts of your staff Your stories are captured once yet retold unlimited times

Tell a more engaging story Visual media brings stories to life

Involve more participants in the story Foster deeper engagement and leverage their network

Digital stories help create an emotional connection with your audiences Raise Money

Traditional Fundraising Campaigns Crowdfunding

Increase Membership or Attendance Membership Drives Event and Program Marketing

Engage Supporters Newsletter Updates Digital Thank Yous

Show Results and Justify Needs Annual Reports Milestone Celebrations

“People will forget what you told them. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made

them feel.”

-World Water Day-Save The Bay-ShelterBox

Digital Storytelling in action

More than 1 billion people on the planet don't have access to clean drinking water. For $20 a person, non-profit charity: water funds clean water solutions like shallow wells, deep wells, rainwater harvesting systems, and spring protections to provide people in need with clean and safe drinking water. 

World Water Day

PLAY VIDEO

Each quarter the employees of Flip Video spend a day giving back to the community. This February they supported Save the Bay, a local Bay Area nonprofit organization.

Save The Bay

PLAY VIDEO

Homes are submerged, floodwater is running through entire towns and approximately sixty thousand families are displaced, but people are still smiling in Thailand.

ShelterBox: Haiti 2011

PLAY VIDEO

-Planning: Focus your narrative and scope-The Golden rules-7 Elements of Digital Storytelling

Telling Your Story

Planning your digital story1. Focus your narrative using these questions

Who are you trying to engage? What action do you want them to take? Why would they take action? What information can you provide to influence their

decision?

2. Determine the scope of your story Moment in time vs. longer story arc? Who should be participating in the story? What media is best to capture (images, videos,

audio, etc.)?

The Golden Rules• Powerful stories are often under 2 minutes long. The

effort you put into keeping it short will go a long way in helping you focus your messageKeep it short

• Try to focus on one main topic (an event, one person's story , a lesson, a testimonial). It's easier to get excited about a video that is focused.

Keep it simple• Viewers want to connect with the work that your

organization is doing. Focus on content that is compelling rather than what's coolBe genuine

• Beginning-Middle-End: Catch the audience at the beginning and explain what is happening, build emotion in the middle, and come to some sort of resolution at the end

Keep it fluid• Video and photos show the story but don’t forget

the importance of audio. Audio adds emotion.Keep it moving• Wide shots - establishes the scene• Medium shot - gives more intimacy• Close-up - for emotion and direct connection

Keep it interesting

7 Elements of Digital StorytellingPoint of View

What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author?A Dramatic Question

A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story.

Emotional Content Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects

the story to the audience.The Gift of Your Voice

A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context.The Power of the Soundtrack

Music or other sounds that support and embellish the storyline.Economy

Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer.Pacing

The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses.

Source: The Center for Digital Storytelling (http://www.storycenter.org/)

-Smart Phones-Point and Shoot Digital Cameras-Pocket Video Cameras-Digital Audio Recorders-Recommended Accessories

Hardware

Smart PhonesAdvantages Point and shoot

image and video capture

Easy to transfer and/or directly share content

On device editing applications

Audio and voice capture available

Disadvantages Reduced quality

of captured content - especially on older devices

Sony Bloggie Touch HD Pocket Video Camera

HD video (1920x1080p)

High resolution photo capture (12.8 MP)

3.0" touch screen Up to 2 hours video

recording time

$59 Amazon.com

Features to consider with Pocket Video Cameras:HD Video Resolution – 720p or higherMemory – 4GB or larger (Internal + Memory Card)Dual Capture – Photos & VideosSize of viewing screen – 2.8” or larger

Panasonic LumixDigital Camera w/ Video

High resolution photos (16.1 MP)

5x optical zoom Auto-stabilization HD Video Recording Intelligent Auto(iA) Mode

$126 Amazon.com

Features to consider with Point and Shoot Cameras:Photo Resolution – 8 Megapixels or higherHD Video Resolution – 720p or higherOptical Zoom – 3x or higher (disregard digital zoom)Memory – 8GB or larger (Internal + Memory Card)

Sony Digital Voice Recorder  Outstanding voice quality Small, light and

unobtrusive Easy to download

recordings to your computer

Long record time with 2 GB of memory - 22 hours

$49 Amazon.com

Features to consider with Audio Recorders:Adjustable Microphone SensitivityRecording Time / Memory – 1 GB or higherExternal Microphone Option

Optional Accessories Additional Memory Cards

If applicable; vary by device

Travel/Mini Tripod Joby GorillaPod (shown

right) Car Charger Extra Rechargeable

Battery Carry Case

-Storage-Manipulation-Distribution

Software

Publishing workflow

Photobucket Photobucket is a place to

store, edit, and share photos and store/share videos

Upload all your best pictures, images, graphics, icons, and videos

Edit your photos by using the photo editor

Share them by email or link them to your favorite sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Import them into other services such as Animoto www.photobucket.com

YouTube Video EditorFeatures Combine videos Add music Trim clips Insert transitions Rotate clips Stabilize clips Add text effects

www.youtube.com/editor

YouTube Nonprofit Program

Benefits of joining

YouTube wants to help you activate your cause, tell a compelling story, and launch an effective campaign using video.

YouTube lets you involve youraudience

Create an interactive video petition to involve, engage and mobilize your audience.

Urge the community to respond to your video by creating one of their own.

Provide examples and a suggested script. Feature video responses from the community in a

playlist on your channel. Create a compilation video with the video

responses to extend your message.

Example: It Gets Better Campaign

Animoto Animoto is a very simple to use

video production tool Bring together video clips,

photos, text, music and create a professional looking

Import content from Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, and Instagram or upload from your computer

Share your videos on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, your website, crowdfunding services, and virtually any other channel.

www.animoto.com

Animoto: CausesHow can Animoto help promote your cause? Automated, professional video

Engage your audience with video, on your site and elsewhere. Drive traffic and donations

Use Animoto videos to convey a message with the right balance of information and emotional connection.

Embrace the like-minded Spread your message to users on social networking sites and

capitalize on the power of social networks. Fundraise through video

Raise money by reselling DVDs of Animoto videos, or kick off events with big screen projections for powerful, emotional messages.

http://www.animoto.com/cause

VUVOX Collage This media creation suite enables you to

easily turn your photos, videos, text and audio clips into interactive horizontally scrolling story.

A COLLAGE can be published, embedded, and syndicated into any website, blog or social networking site.

Features include: Image Cut-out and Masking tools Layer positioning and Compositing Interactive 'Hot-spots', providing links to

media, text or other websites Ability to add rich media details Text and Soundtrack

http://www.vuvox.com/collage

Dropbox Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all

your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. This means that any file you save to your

Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, phones and even the Dropbox website.

Dropbox makes sharing so easy. Invite your friends, family and teammates to any

folder in your Dropbox, and it'll be as if you saved that folder straight to their computers.

You can send people links to specific files in your Dropbox too. This makes Dropbox perfect for team projects, sharing party photos with friends, or recording your band's new album.

Dropbox keeps your files safe. Even if your computer has a meltdown, your

stuff is always safe in Dropbox and can be restored in a snap

http://www.dropbox.com

Q & A

Additional Resources GroundWork Design

Technology consulting and development firm specialize in Virtual experience and digital storytelling

Vimeo's Video School Learn how to make better videos through lessons, tutorials, and sage advice

Video Storytelling for Nonprofits This slide deck from See3 Communications covers how to approach video,

making a plan, the different types of video storytelling, and four things you can do right now to get started. See slides 12 and 13 for important questions to ask before making your video.

See3's Guide to Online Video A YouTube playlist of short videos about making videos.

How to Create a Digital Story  Includes the recorded webinar, powerpoint, a storyboarding worksheet, and a

video release form. See also Tools for Digital Storytelling, or check out more of TechSoup's storytelling webinars under the "Outreach and Marketing" category.

How Nonprofits Can Use Video to Fundraise

Sources http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/ http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx http

://www.causevox.com/blog/2012/01/19/highlights-our-ntenfoundation-center-digital-storytelling-session/

http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/07/21/digital-storytelling-from-soup-to-nuts/ http://www.storycenter.org/about/ http://dcat.tv/dcat/index.cfm/the-dcat-blog/digital-storytelling-for-non-profits/ http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/07/15/digital-storytelling-a-tutorial-in-10-easy-steps/ http://

forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/b/tsblog/archive/2011/01/18/digital-storytelling-methods-time-and-resources-needed.aspx

http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/b/tsblog/archive/2011/01/14/techsoup-digital-storytelling-challenge-tips-on-telling-your-story.aspx

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/webinars/2011_01_13_how/page13252.cfm

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page6738.cfm http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/06/10/5-steps-to-create-video-stories-for-your-nonprofit/ http://storify.com/askdebra/the-future-of-nonprofit-storytelling-12ntcstory/embed http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/digital-storytelling-video http://backpacktactics.com/no-brochures-digital-storytelling-for-nonprofits/ http://animoto.com/cause