COMU3130_Task sheet storytelling Background Writing and journalistic skills, social media expertise, and experience in public speaking and rhetoric are absolute

COMU3130_Task sheet storytelling

Background

Writing and journalistic skills, social media expertise, and experience in public speaking and rhetoric are absolute musts for you to succeed in the field of public relations.

There is a component of that, that relates to the core skill of public relations professionals: the art of storytelling.

Storytelling is described as one of the most effective ways to communicate and can be defined as “art” of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination.

The art of storytelling is very present today – in commercials (watch ads and commercials to get inspired!), presentations, public speeches and announcements as well as media statements. Storytelling activates more areas of the brain than purely factual content – mainly if we deal with complex or challenging issues like sustainability or the changing climate, CO2 emissions, energy production and storage or recycling and waste systems.

Also, as an audience listens to or reads a story, they will put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes, and areas of the brain will light up as if they are experiencing the story themselves. Storytelling is important to public relations strategies because it allows companies to better connect with their audience and ultimately stimulate the audience’s feelings, ideas, and attitudes to align with their communication and marketing goals. Nothing more powerful than making your content and news relatable to your audience.

– Stories need conflict, drama, setbacks.

– Stories need a protagonist who learns from the experience.

– Stories need to be written in a clear, conversational style that makes it easy for the

reader to be drawn into the narrative.

Objective:

DOING Public Relations – telling a sustainability story to “deconstruct” sustainability, make it less complex, make it relatable to your audience.

Task, what to do

1. Think about format:

Written:

– Report (max 1000 words, don’t forget photos etc.)

– Narrative / Story (max 2500 words)

– Blog (max 1000 words – don’t forget photos, links, interactive elements)

Audio:

– Podcast (3 min or more – depending on what it is; interview might go up to 15 min,

other formats might need less time)

– Song or similar (3 min or more)

– Other?

Video:

– Feature or similar (min. 3 min; max 10 min)

– “How to do”-video (min 3 min, max 10 min.)

– Report / documentary (min 3 min, max 15 min)

– Interview (min 5 min, max 15 min)

Other (artpiece, (board) game, postcards, tiktok videos, Instagram stories, website etc.)

– Check with Franzisca

Generally, if you aren’t sure -> please get in touch with me: f.weder@uq.edu.au, or via facebook etc.

2. Create the story

Stories can be of any genre, like fairy tales, fables, translated stories, legends, myths, mystery, science fiction, motivational, travel or ghost stories.

Stories should have a narrative plot structure [Introduction, Rising action, Conflict, Climax, and Resolution] and not just be a recount of an incident; however, they can have a feature or report format.NOTES FROM STUDENT:

– I have uploaded the full task sheet and marking criteria

-Please ignore any options other than WRITTEN.

-PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING LINK CONTAINING ASSIGNMENTS FROM LAST YEAR.

https://jacdigital.com.au/category/sustainability/?fbclid=IwAR1gKLom76F2jOKvHVFpY9_UN_7DTeBKpQbHDEk6r8WCCCO-0rrmuuBP8Fg