Introduction
A guide with resources, directories and media about Narrative and Storytelling collated by the Democracy Resource Hub.
- Master strategic communication and public narrative techniques for shaping democratic discourse.
- Learn values-based messaging, counter-narrative development, and digital storytelling for advocacy.
- Explore inclusive narrative building and media engagement strategies to mobilize supporters and create a shared vision for democratic renewal.
What is narrative and storytelling? Why is it important for democracy?
Narrative & storytelling is the connective tissue that unites democratic renewal efforts. It:
- Crafts and shares compelling stories to shape public understanding
- Inspires action and creates meaning around democratic issues
- Frames democratic values and mobilizes citizens
- Counters antidemocratic rhetoric and practices
- Shifts public discourse through strategic communication and media engagement
- Builds movements and creates a shared vision for a more inclusive democracy
- Creates the ecosystem to engage across difference
How does narrative and storytelling fit into the broader movement for democratic renewal?
Narrative and storytelling is a key element in the movement for democratic renewal. It emphasizes the power of shaping public understanding and inspiring action. Integrating insights and tools from various approaches enhances the narrative and storytelling process, making it more effective and comprehensive:
Strengthening Democracy: Needs inspiring narratives to build long-term democratic resilience.
- Block, Bridge and Build: Playbook for an Inclusive Multi-Racial Democracy
- Highlighting 10 positive narratives for democracy” by Keseb
Power-Building and Nonviolent Action: Use stories to highlight marginalized voices and drive systemic change.
- BATMo! Module 1: Learning from History: Sharing NVA Stories
- Organising Stories and Lessons from the 350 Organising Story Telling Lab
Peacebuilding: Facilitates understanding across divides, creating a foundation for inclusive narratives.
Strategic Planning: Ensures narratives align with broader goals for systemic change.
Narrative & Storytelling Skill Sets and Resources
How can we apply narrative powerbuilding and storytelling to inspire action and renew democracy?
Narrative & Storytelling is the connective tissue that unites democratic renewal efforts. It involves crafting and sharing compelling stories to shape public understanding, inspire action, and create meaning around democratic issues. This approach frames democratic values, mobilizes citizens, and counters antidemocratic rhetoric. Here are some resources to learn more:
- Guide to Public Narrative from the Leading Change Network
- Public Narrative: Online Course
- Storytelling for Systems Change: insights from the field
- How to Change the Narrative / Story: Guides, Worksheets and Templates
- Introduction to deep narrative landscaping
- Story Maps by Democracy Labs
- 1:1 Interview - Deep Narrative Discussion Guide
Visit the Power-Building & Nonviolent Action page for more grassroots organizing resources.
How can we develop narratives for growth, unity, belonging and inclusion?
Creating and promoting stories that emphasize diverse voices and experiences within a democracy fosters a sense of shared democratic identity and highlights the importance of inclusivity. These narratives of belonging and inclusion support efforts to create a more equitable and representative democracy. Here are some resources to learn more:
- Understanding Social Identity and Group Norms
- Get Real about Privilege: Become an Ally
- Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric: What We Can Do
- Talking about Race: Racial Equity Resources
- Narrative Engagement Across Difference (NEAD) Project
- Civic Language Perceptions Project 2024: How Civic Language Unites, Divides, & Motivates American Voters (US-Based)
Visit the Peacebuilding page for more belonging and inclusion resources.
What is the role of media and journalism in the effort for democratic revival?
Media and journalism involves engaging with and utilizing various platforms to disseminate democratic narratives and counter misinformation. This includes developing relationships with journalists and creating content that informs and engages the public on democratic issues. Here are some resources to learn more:
- Reporting In Contentious Times: Insights for Journalists to Avoid Fanning the Flames A Memo
- The Authoritarian Playbook: How Reporters can Contextualize and Cover Authoritarian Threats as Distinct from Politics-as-Usual
- Complicating the Narratives framework
- Good Conflict Toolkit for Journalists (and Everyone)
- The Citizens Agenda: A Step-by-Step Guide to Audience-Centric Reporting
- "22 Questions to Complicate the Narrative: A Practical Guide for Journalists"
Visit the Strengthening Democracy page for more resources about civic engagement.
Narrative & Storytelling Directory
The Democracy Resource Hub Directory is organized into three groups:
- Networks: Organizations to join and work with.
- Training Organizations: Offering workshops, trainings, webinars and courses.
- Resource Libraries: Information hubs for deeper exploration.
The directories on this page only include organizations and libraries related to “Narrative & Storytelling.” (Full Directory listing available here)
Directory Navigation Tips:
- Click on the Organization/Resource tile for more information.
- Directory entries include a short “Summary,” a longer “Description,” website link, and other information.
- Use Table View for easy viewing on mobile devices, or for dynamic spreadsheets on desktops.
- Use Filter (on desktops) to focus on the specific information you’re looking for, such as skillsets, target audience, learning goals, location. (Learn more: How to Filter).
Narrative & Storytelling Network Directory
Narrative & Storytelling Training Directory
Narrative & Storytelling Resource Library Directory
Featured Media
Books
- High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley
- Reinventing Journalism to Strengthen Democracy: Insights from Innovators (various authors, Kettering Foundation)
- Citizen-Centered Journalism by Paula Lynn Ellis, Paul S. Voakes, and Lori Bergen
- How Journalists Engage: A Theory of Trust Building, Identities, and Care by Sue Robinson
Articles/Essays
- “Exploring narrative practices for broad-based movements in contexts of democratic decline” By Julia Roig & James Savage
- “Complicating the Narratives: What if journalists covered controversial issues differently — based on how humans actually behave when they are polarized and suspicious?” by Amanda Ripley (Audio Version)
- “22 Questions that ‘Complicate the Narrative’: (Conversation techniques, interview questions, and story examples) by Solutions Journalism
Reports
- Collaborating Across Differences to Reduce Authoritarianism: Narrative Core Competencies of Power, Legitimacy & Complexity (Source: sponsored by The Horizons Project in partnership with Civic Futures)
- Civic Language Perceptions Project 2024: How Civic Language Unites, Divides, & Motivates American Voters (Source: Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE))
- Narrative Observatory (Source: Harmony Labs)
Podcasts
Grantmakers in the Arts Podcast
Grantmakers in the Arts Podcast featuring interviews with leaders in arts funding, the cultural community, intersecting sectors – like arts and health or narrative change – and artists.
Recommended Episodes
- The Transformative Capacity of Narrative and Cultural Strategy
- Narrative Change: Satire, Storytelling, and Unpacking this Shift
Collective impact Forum Podcast
The Collective Impact Forum is here to share resources, tools, and stories to support social change makers working in cross-sector collaboration.
Recommended Episodes:
Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World
Based on their book Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World, Deepak Bhargava and Stephanie Luce talk with some of the leading progressive organizers and thinkers today and share insights crucial for the fight to build a better society.Deepak Bhargava and Stephanie Luce
Recommended Episodes:
Videos & Movies
Transforming Narrative Waters with Ruth Taylor of the Common Cause Foundation
How To Do Solutions Journalism that Complicates the Narrative
Credit: The Artwork on the Democracy Resource Hub logo is by Veronika Belcheva (CC-BY-NC-SA).