Thoughts
The time for ethical storytelling is now
Last week, Refugee Action brought together over 100 charities to send a letter to the Labour Home Secretary with the following message:
Stop blaming migrants and tackle the UK’s real problems.
What I like best about this message is its ambition; more than a counterargument, it seeks to change the whole conversation. But you can’t deny the emotional power of anti-migrant narratives. So what can the charity sector do to reclaim emotional storytelling for social good?
Charities need to find their climate voice more than ever
Yes, it’s getting hotter all the time, but, according to government research, people are caring less. At the same time, corporations and politicians are variously seeking to distract, lead and mislead the narrative on climate change.
So how can environmental charities find their voice in our cluttered and polarising information landscape?
How Can Charity Language Survive the Woke Backlash?
If woke has failed, what are the consequences for charities, often regarded as the most woke storytellers around? With supporters in increasingly short supply, do they need to reframe their stories of social justice to stay relevant?
Why do Supporters Think Most Charity Brand Personalities are the Same? (And Like it That Way)
A strong brand personality gives the brand a human-like identity. So why do supporters of charities rank mundane qualities so highly?
Storytelling for Small Charities: A Lesson from Peru
My first experience of working with small purpose-led organisations was in 2010, 11,000 feet above sea level. Cusco, Peru, to be precise.
Never Trust a Storyteller
Good storytellers know how to push your buttons. They can make you laugh, and they can make you cry. They'll have you seething with frustration or overwhelmed with empathy. Good storytellers have the power to change the world.
Top Ten 1980s Pop Song-themed Purpose-led Copywriting Tips
Thinking of writing copy for a purpose-led project? Relax, don’t do it. Not until you’ve read our Top Ten 1980s pop song-themed purpose-led copywriting tips.
Children’s Stories, Charity Stories, and Emotional Punches
What is it about children’s stories and the darkest reaches of human nature? Like purpose-led storytelling, they engage our moral consciences.
AI, Charity Copywriting, and the Cosmic Music of 1970s East Germany
Does AI take away the admin and drudgery of copywriting? Well, yes, if your copywriting is administrative drudge.
Ten Top Tips for Story-gathering
Charity communications are all about storytelling. It’s the most compelling way to attract support for the people your organisation is working with. So, the WAY you tell them is critical. It determines how well you’ll engage audiences, foster relationships with your brand, and, ultimately, raise money for your cause.
Storytelling and Why I Believe in Fairies
Most people may claim not to believe in fairies. But when push comes to shove, they’d rather not risk upsetting them.
Ten Tips for Unlocking Emotional Stories in Interviews
When interviewing people on the front line of our public services, getting to what they really feel can be tricky. Especially when they’re men.
The Refugee Crisis, Political Language, and Charity Brands
Who gets to tell the story about the refugee crisis in the UK? Suella Braverman's description of the refugee crisis as an 'invasion' shapes the narrative we all absorb.
Changing Charity Language for Good
It’s never easy to admit you’re wrong, change long-held habits, and make yourself vulnerable. But changing the way we communicate in the not-for-profit sector often requires us to do just that.
Can Fundraising Campaigns be Urgent and Ethical?
In conversations about ‘decolonising’ charity communications, finding the ethical problems is easy. But it’s harder to find solutions that keep supporters motivated to give.