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Navigating Narratives: A Recap of PMC's Insights from Story Movements 2024
Population Media Center (PMC) recently had the privilege of attending the 2024 Story Movements conference organized by the Center for Media & Social Impact and held in Washington, D.C. The event brought together diverse voices from various fields across tech, comedy, media, activism, philanthropy, and filmmaking. Over two days, attendees engaged in enlightening discussions, emphasizing storytelling’s role in driving social change.
At the conference, Elizabeth Borg, our Vice President of Development, Aziah Kamari Pless, our Content Strategist, and Samuel Dichiara, our Research Associate, were in attendance, representing PMC’s commitment to telling transformative stories through innovative approaches.
Here’s a brief overview of our key takeaways and reflections from the event:
Incorporating Humor and Creativity:
One standout aspect of the conference was integrating humor and creativity into the discussions. The comedy show “Oh, We Can Joke About That?” showcased how humor can be a powerful tool to ignite essential conversations around social issues.
“This aligns perfectly with PMC’s ethos. By infusing humor and creativity, we can engage broader audiences and foster meaningful conversations across our programs’ focus areas,” says Pless.
Adapting to Changing Media Landscapes:
A recurring theme throughout the conference was adapting to evolving media landscapes. As media consumption habits shift towards shorter formats, there’s a growing need to explore innovative storytelling techniques.
“As media trends evolve towards shorter formats, it’s important that we uphold the essence of our methodology. This balance ensures our Educational Entertainment (EE) initiatives stay relevant, impactful and aligned with our mission of driving social change through storytelling,” says Dichiara.
While PMC’s projects may differ from some of the areas discussed at the event, we recognize the importance of staying current with emerging trends while maintaining our mission and methodology.
Measuring Impact in Strategies:
Another significant takeaway revolved around the challenges of measuring impact and change in media projects. As highlighted during the discussions, assessing the effectiveness of storytelling initiatives requires creativity and ingenuity. At PMC, we focus on impact. We lead in impact assessment with a deep understanding of its complexities and a commitment to forging pioneering evaluation methods.
“In a landscape where discussions about impact often surpass understanding, we see a perfect opportunity to partner with organizations seeking clarity on measuring impact or to spearhead advancements in this arena,” says Borg.
By continuously refining our impact assessment methods, we can better understand the transformative power of our programs and optimize our efforts to drive positive social change.
Join Us in Storytelling For The Global Good
Intersectionality and Collaborative Storytelling:
The conference stressed the importance of intersectionality and collaborative storytelling in addressing multifaceted social issues. We can create more comprehensive and impactful stories by amplifying diverse voices and fostering inclusive narratives. PMC promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within each of our storytelling initiatives. Through collaborative partnerships and cross-sectoral engagements, we aim to cultivate a rich tapestry of narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Thank you to Story Movements DC 2024 for organizing a thought-provoking and impactful gathering. We are grateful to engage with thought leaders and practitioners who are passionate about harnessing storytelling’s power for social change. As we reflect on the key learnings from the conference, PMC reaffirms its commitment to leveraging the transformative potential of media to build a more equitable and sustainable world.
Together, let’s continue to harness the power of storytelling to drive meaningful change.
