Week 1 - Introduction and Course Overview: What is Multimedia Storytelling for Strategic Communications?
Defining multimedia storytelling: from eternal principles to exciting new directions in trans- and immersive media.
Reading:
Gibson, W. (2003). Pattern Recognition. Berkley. [Excerpts in class Moodle book.]
Gladwell, M. (2000). The Stickiness Factor. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference (pp. 89-110). New York: Little, Brown, and Company.
Jenkins, H., Ford, S., and Green, J. (2013). Sticky Content, Spreadable Practices. Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York and London: New York University Press.
Additional Assignment:
Explore on your own. What defines good multimedia storytelling for you? Bring examples next week; it could be online fiction, games, apps, blogs…as long as they incorporate multimedia and tell stories. How and why do they engage you?
Week 2 - The Evolution of Media Storytelling: New Modes of Presenting and Engaging for a Purpose
Examining the evolving world of multimedia and transmedia storytelling used to engage—exploring trends in nonlinear story experiences through case studies, with a focus on the interactive role of participatory audiences, and convergence.
Reading:
Jenkins, H., Ford, S., and Green, J. (2013). The Value of Media Engagement. Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York and London: New York University Press.
Phillips, A. (2012 ). What is Transmedia Anyway? A Creator’s Guide to Transmedia Storytelling. New York: McGraw Hill.
Weiler, L. (2012). Storytelling: Bear71. Retrieved from http://lanceweiler.com/bear71/
Viewing:
Bear 71. The National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved from http://bear71.nfb.ca/#/bear71 (best viewed on Safari or Edge; with Flash player.)
Week 3 - Case Studies in the Evolution of Who is Media: Organizations Telling Their Own Stories
Starting with their traditional content, public libraries and museums make apps; nonprofits for hunger and girl power make games for change.
Viewing:
“Biblion: The Boundless Library” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNlxyLLNi1g
“Half the Sky Movement” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Ahpocmjs0
Reading:
Lee, D. (2013). The New York Public Library and the World of Tomorrow. In Peters, T. and Bell, L. (2013). The Handheld Library: Mobile Technology and the Librarian, ABC-CLIO.
Murphy, T. (2013). Making a Game of Nick Kristof’s [and Sheryl WuDunn’s] Half the Sky Movement. Retrived from http://www.humanosphere.org/basics/2013/03/half-the-sky-game/
Additional Assignment:
Explore on your own. Find effective examples of nonprofits using new and multimedia to spur action; it could be fictional storylines, games, apps, blogs…as long as they incorporate multimedia and tell stories. How and why do they engage you?
Week 4 - Choosing Your Organization Client
Students will be introduced to two organizations, and Italian for profit business, and an American nonprofit. In preparation, materials will be provided for you to learn about their missions and communications goals.
Week 5 - Conceptualizing Your Story
Matching the story of a business with the story you tell: it’s all about the mission. Outlining, storyboarding,and goal setting with helpful online tools…all while keeping creativity at the fore.
Reading:
Gardner, H. And Davis, K. (2013). Acts (and Apps) of Imagination Among Today’s Youth. The App Generation: How Today’s Youth navigate Identity, Intimacy and Imagination in a Digital World. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Optional Reading (depending on your project):
Gitner, S. (2016). The Building Blocks of Visual Storytelling: How Are Visual Images Created and Combined Logically to Tell a Coherent Story with a Beginning, Middle, and End? Multimedia Storytelling for Digital Communicators in a Multiplatform World. New York and London: Routledge.
Gitner, S. (2016). How Can Multimedia Storytelling Be Used To Tell True-Life Stories? Multimedia Storytellingfor Digital Communicators in a Multiplatform World. New York and London: Routledge.
Week 6 - Research
Choosing a content management management system and addressing content rights; choosing your storytelling platform.
Week 7 - The Platform
Making the most of the platform you choose, including pitching a partnership.
Weeks 8-10 Production
Week 11-12
User Experience Testing, Fine-Tuning, Dissemination
Weeks 13-14
Release and Screenings