Our Role as Storytellers

By Kim Nielsen

I don’t often think of myself as a storyteller. I’m not a novelist, and I don’t share stories with children sitting on the floor around me as I recall my grandfather doing when I was young.

Regardless of the mental picture I have of storytellers, those of us in the PR, marketing and communications professions really do have stories to tell – the stories of our company, organization or client. I’ve become increasingly reminded of our role as storytellers (especially through technology) over the past few weeks.

Just today, as an alumna of the MA program in Marquette’s College of Communication, I received an email asking me to complete a survey on a graduate sequence in digital storytelling that the school is devleoping. The courses explore and apply the integration of technology and storytelling through blogs, documentaries, websites, etc.

Even before receiving the survey, the topic was already fresh in my mind. I recently attended a conference where Jonathan Harris was a keynote speaker. He combines storytelling and technology in amazing ways. If you aren’t familiar with Harris, I strongly recommend checking out some of his work here. One of my personal favorites is We Feel Fine. Commissioned by MOMA, I Want You to Want Me (highlighted in the video) is also pretty neat.

 

We’ve always been storytellers. When you really think about it, though, we can tell our stories in an incredible number and collection of ways.

Being the Front Runner in the Digital World

by Sam Sova

As a young professional you have a distinct advantage in the workforce when it comes to the digital world – YOU get it. You grew up in a world revolved around technology and the Internet. If you need to find an answer to something – you Google it. If you want to find the basics of a topic you go to Wikipedia. Want to connect with college and highschool classmates, go to Facebook and find out what they are doing – you no longer have to wait for the reunions. 

When it comes to most organizations you have a distinct advantage in leading them in the right direction in communicating with clients in the digital world. Telling your clients how great you are ONLY through traditional methods of press releases, tradeshows, brochures, etc. no longer cuts it. To get your message deeper you have to hit them in the new ways of Web 2.0. This means by seeing what is being said about you in blogs, taking opportunities to participate in podcasts, and advertising on the Web. 

While some of your co-workers are still struggling with the basics of Microsoft Office – like embedding video in a PowerPoint presentation – you have the advantage of your basic knowledge to excel in your company’s progression in the digital age. We are a generation of participators. If you don’t know how to blog, start reading blogs and even start your own – like we did with this one! Find out what are good podcasts and find ways that your company could do it. Learn the basics of Web 2.0 by participating and JOINING THE CONVERSATION. In doing so you will learn a ton about helping your company succeed in the digital world.   

Innovation

by Erica Zipp

 

I am finally beginning to understand how technology will affect future generations. While out to dinner a few nights ago, my husband and I were amazed at how quite the baby next to us was. When I looked over to see what was keeping this child so content, I noticed the baby was watching a movie on an iPhone. The child was smiling and perfectly content being entertained by a device that was too big to fit in a normal size purse a few years ago.

 

Things sure have changed since I was a kid. I’m pretty sure I was given the car keys to play with when I needed entertainment at a restaurant. Not the safest toy in the world, but we survived.