The theme for this month’s newsletter is “Telling tall tales” and the power of story telling.

 

We’d also like to welcome Michelle back to Australia! She has returned this month from Africa to finish that elusive PhD in Environment Communication and social identity theory. It’s great to have her back, even if she will be mostly in the hermetic coma of the last six months (or so) of her PhD write up.

 

Meanwhile, Lin has just returned from Japan giving lectures to those interested in environmental education and communication at Sendai University. More on that next newsletter.

 

Regards,

The team at Econnect Communication

Lin Martin, Jenni Metcalfe, Louise Ralph, Michelle Riedlinger

 

THIS MONTH – April 2003

Telling tall tales

1.      TELLING THE WHOLE STORY

2.      SPINNING A GOOD YARN

3.      ENTERING THE THEATRE OF THE MIND

4.      CROSSING CULTURAL BOUNDARIES

5.      A PARABLE

6.      THE ADVENTURES OF GREENA

7.      SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

8.      CONTACT US

1. TELLING THE WHOLE STORY

By Michelle Riedlinger

 

Story-telling is a powerful communication tool because it provides a logical model for overcoming the contradictions we often encounter when trying to communicate with others.

For example, one of the major obstacles for land managers in implementing sustainable land management practices is the belief that these practices are not economically viable -- that it isn't practical or feasible in the short-term.

Those involved in environmental communication know that many mechanisms exist for increasing productivity through better land management. But often the communication methods used to change existing beliefs aren't up to the task, because they fail to acknowledge contradicting viewpoints.

By applying the six steps of narrative structure to real life examples of successful and management projects, many kinds of communication projects can be improved.

The six step approach can be used to overcome many of the challenges associated with changing beliefs and aligning seemingly contradictory views.

1. Preparation: set out the problem, e.g. a land manager has significant environmental problems such as reduced crop yield, erosion, salinity

2. Complication: set out contradiction, e.g. the need for land to be financially viable in the short term (bank interest, drought for six years)

3. Transference: agent sets out on a quest, e.g. gathering information by talking to many people -- going through various options available.

4. Struggle: describe setbacks and obstacles, e.g. challenges to practically implementing new practices, describing support mechanisms available

5. Return: agent returns to overcome difficulty, e.g. implement new practices on land

6. Recognition: agent recognised by community for contribution, e.g. land turning a profit so it is an example for others in the community to emulate

And if you aren't convinced about the power of story-telling to change the way we manage our environment, you only have to look to the writings of William
Wordsworth.

The concept of national parks can be traced back to his writings, and those of others in his time, which dealt with issues involving humans and their relationship with the natural world (see http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1098/NatParks.html).

2. SPINNING A GOOD YARN

By Jenni Metcalfe

 

Everyone loves a good story -- whether they’re reading a book (or magazine, newspaper, brochure, report, leaflet), listening to a talk or presentation, or watching a movie (or video, computer animation, TV show).

 

Weaving a good yarn into communication products or processes can really help you to connect with the audience and get your messages across.

 

This was brought home to me again when Louise and I attended a recent freelance writers’ conference in Sydney. At the conference, we heard fascinating life stories from people like Ita Buttrose, Tony Squires, Emma Tom, and Geraldine Doogue, as well as less known but equally fascinating literary luminaries.

 

Some tips for writing stories are to:

• Inject your own humanity and passion into the story
• Describe what is before your eyes -- get into the scene
• Colour stories with people and their personalities -- listen to what people say and how they say it
• Provoke the reader/listener/viewer’s curiosity
• Think of new and interesting angles to old stories

 

Geraldine Doogue, presenter of Life Matters on Radio National, said all good media is about stories that distill information, provoke curiosity and provide sparkle.

3. ENTERING THE THEATRE OF THE MIND

By Louise Ralph

"The audience has a very important role in storytelling – for their minds are the canvas on which the teller paints his tale."  Barry McWilliams

Before stone tablets, paper or microchips, stories carried the history, customs and beliefs of ancient civilizations. Storytelling was, and still is, an effective form of communication.

 

Stories work because our minds absorb and remember word pictures more easily than cold facts. Unfortunately, we have become slaves of visual stimulation, and are losing the art of imagination. But buried deep in each of us is the love of a good story.

 

Comedian, Billy Connolly banks on it, creating vivid word pictures and carrying his audience along on the rhythm of sound and words. The Bible has survived as much for its stories as its philosophies. Speakers who can tell a good story can get and keep our attention longer than an interesting factual presenter.

 

"In our modern media world, filled with pre-programmed imagery, storytelling offers the listener an opportunity to be creative; to design costumes, sets and scenery in the theatre of the mind. Sharing stories brings people intimately together," says storyteller Helen Forest (http://www.storyarts.org/).

You can view some of Econnect's extra-curricula creative work and stories at http://www.econnect.com.au/gall_writing.htm

4. CROSSING CULTURAL BOUNDARIES

By Jenni Metcalfe

 

Stories can be powerful mechanisms for sharing meaning and for more effective communication between people of different cultural backgrounds.

 

This was profoundly illustrated in talk given by Michael Duffy, Communication Manager with the CRC for Aboriginal and Tropical Health at a workshop I was coordinating in Darwin recently. He was talking about the cultural divide between the medical profession and Aboriginal patients suffering from acute kidney problems.

 

Researchers from his CRC video-taped exchanges between medical staff and patients and found there was a complete lack of shared meaning about the seriousness of the patient’s condition and what was needed to treat it. This was confounded by Aboriginal people’s desire to give answers to questions that they thought might please the people asking the questions and by their tendency to answer questions with “yes yes, everything is alright”. When asked, they were able to regurgitate the information given to them, but their actions demonstrated they really didn’t understand the meaning of that information.

 

Michael said their experience has shown that communication with Aboriginal people will only work when relationships have been developed of mutual trust. This takes a long time and usually requires sitting informally together and sharing stories so that the meanings behind the information can be shared. It also means acknowledging the value of the knowledge and information that the Aboriginal people already have. For example, before Europeans settled in Australia, there is evidence that Aboriginal people had their own bush remedies for mild kidney problems.

 

Even more recently, I participated in an 8-day walk in Kakadu National Park (Koolpin Creek to Gunlom via Barramundi and Waterfall Creeks) with Willis’s Walkabouts (www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au). We were privileged to be the first group in this region to have a young traditional Jawoyn owner with us – Lazarus Ford. In our visits to remote and hidden art sites he was able to enrich our experience by explaining the paintings and telling the tales linked to them. He also told us stories – modern and ancient – about bush tucker and the animals of the region. Some were sad, some were very funny and others were scary – but all added immeasurably to our understanding of the region and the people who live in it.

5. A PARABLE

The following excerpt comes from Helen Forest's website www.storyarts.org

 

Helen writes:

Why are stories so powerful? This question has been addressed in a famous story told by Jacob Kranz, the Maggid of Dubno, an 18th century rabbi in Eastern Europe. Here is a poem based on his thoughts.

 

Naked Truth and Parable

Naked Truth walked down the street one day.
People turned their eyes away.

 

Parable arrived, draped in decoration.
People greeted Parable with celebration.

 

Naked Truth sat alone, sad and unattired,
"Why are you so miserable?" Parable inquired.

Naked Truth replied, "I'm not welcome anymore.
No one wants to see me. They chase me from their door."

 

"It is hard to look at Naked Truth," Parable explained.
"Let me dress you up a bit. Your welcome will be gained."

 

Parable dressed Naked Truth in story's fine attire,
with metaphor, poignant prose, and plots to inspire.

 

With laughter and tears and adventure to unveil,
together they went forth to spin a tale.

 

People opened their doors and served them their best.

Naked Truth dressed in story was a welcome guest.

 

-- A Jewish tale retold as a poem by Heather Forest

 

6. THE ADVENTURES OF GREENA

Courtesy of Bernie Hobbs

Planet Slayer, at www.planetslayer.com, is an interactive website on ABC Online that tells the shocking truth about how the environment is affected by the way we live and what we buy -- without the sometimes tedious greenie attitude.

The site features The Adventures of Greena, an animated series about Greena the Eco-Worrier and her dog Schpinkee. Over 12 gripping episodes, Greena (an endearing but righteous greenie) strives to right environmental wrongs in her annoying little way -- scoring about the same success rate that the rest of us do.

The series has already won Best Animation (Web) at the AEAF awards in 2002. Two episodes have also been nominated in the Internet animation category of the prestigious Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France.

Planet Slayer was produced under the ABC New Media and Digital Service and
Film Victoria's Digital Media Fund.

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8. CONTACT US

Econnect Communication works with science, environment, ecotourism and natural resource management agencies to:

• evaluate and develop communication strategies
• write and design products that meet audience needs
• run workshops that train staff and management in communication skills

 

Contact us: phone 07 3846 7111; email admin@econnect.com.au  

Website: http://www.econnect.com.au

New tips: http://www.econnect.com.au/news_qt.htm

 

 

Copyright: Econnect Communication Pty Ltd, 2003

Articles in this newsletter can be reproduced if Econnect Communication Pty Ltd

is acknowledged as the source