chapter 2
Why?
Project effects
Project effects
Before developing a project, it is crucial to answer a seemingly simple question — why?
Why does the world need it?
Make sure your idea is relevant and not redundant.
Why does the audience need it?
Think in advance about what you expect from the publication of your project and from those who will see it.
Why do I need it?
Determine your personal relationship with the topic and its significance for you.
Any project should begin with a deep and conscious understanding of its goals and the effects you want to achieve.
Why does the world need it?
Make sure your idea is relevant and not redundant.
Why does the audience need it?
Think in advance about what you expect from the publication of your project and from those who will see it.
Why do I need it?
Determine your personal relationship with the topic and its significance for you.
Any project should begin with a deep and conscious understanding of its goals and the effects you want to achieve.
KEY GROUPS OF EFFECTS
EDUCATION
We make visible those aspects of social life that, for some reason, remain unknown or are beyond the life picture of specific groups of people.
The multimedia project Zendetta, through the personal story of its protagonist (and author), provides the entire online community with the opportunity to learn about the war in Syria from a firsthand witness: “Because other means of expression are no longer able to absorb the enormous amount of accumulated feelings and traumas because history has begun to distort and because I am tired, my mind and my body ache from the heavy burden of carrying these memories. I wanted to give them a new home, to live on the internet in a new way, and to be my message and my personal history of everything I lived and suffered during the revolution.”
KEY GROUPS OF EFFECTS
PREVENTION
Creating such an informational online and/or offline space where potential conditions
are established to prevent similar phenomena in the future.
are established to prevent similar phenomena in the future.
Gender-based violence in India and other patriarchal societies is deeply rooted as an acceptable norm. The comic book Priya’s Shakti and other similar programs break the
taboo around gender violence through art, education, and a vibrant main character.
taboo around gender violence through art, education, and a vibrant main character.
KEY GROUPS OF EFFECTS
ASSISTANCE
Motivating the audience to take feasible actions, provide assistance, volunteer, and participate in resolving conflicts or their aftermath.
The Danish project The Why, which aligns with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, has gained global traction. Many viewers
are not indifferent: they form communities, organize rallies, speak publicly about human rights, supporting refugees, victims of violence, and socially vulnerable groups of the population.
are not indifferent: they form communities, organize rallies, speak publicly about human rights, supporting refugees, victims of violence, and socially vulnerable groups of the population.
A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF EFFECTS ALLOWS US TO:
1
Formulate and develop meanings and
messages for the project that are aligned with its idea.
2
Choose the correct form for the project and the environment for its placement.
3
Focus on the proper audience.
4
Plan the work and organize the team
effectively.
effectively.
1
Formulate and develop meanings and
messages for the project that are aligned with its idea.
2
Choose the correct form for the project and the environment for its placement.
3
Focus on the proper audience.
4
Plan the work and organize the team
effectively.
effectively.
- GOALS
WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE? - EFFECTS
WHAT WILL COME OF IT?
All stages of project developing unfold in reverse order, starting from the point of the desired effect. Thus, the effect of the project can be called the epicenter of all the actions that unfold within it.
The timing and nature of effects may vary. For example, educational projects’ impact is aimed at a more distant future than a donor fundraising campaign.
The timing and nature of effects may vary. For example, educational projects’ impact is aimed at a more distant future than a donor fundraising campaign.
EXAMPLE OF A SHORT-TERM AND ONE-TIME EFFECT:
- PROBLEM: A crisis state of a war conflict victim.
- GOAL: Raise funds for psychological assistance and basic necessities.
- EFFECT: Help in the rehabilitation of the victim.
EXAMPLE OF A LONG-TERM
EFFECT:
- PROBLEM: Hostility towards refugees among the local population.
- GOAL: Change attitudes.
- EFFECT: Local community participation in ongoing refugee integration programs.
HOW TO WORK WITH THE WORD «WHY»?
1
FORMULATE THE PROBLEM
Try to find a precise formulation, avoiding overly global and general terms. The more specific the problem is defined, the clearer
the solutions become.
2
DETERMINE THE GOAL
Do not confuse the absolute solution
to a global problem with the project’s goal. Consider what real and tangible goal your specific project might have.
Do not confuse the absolute solution
to a global problem with the project’s goal. Consider what real and tangible goal your specific project might have.
3
MAKE A LIST OF DESIRED EFFECTS
Think about direct and indirect effects. Literally, imagine what you would like the viewer to do/understand/feel after viewing
your story.
Think about direct and indirect effects. Literally, imagine what you would like the viewer to do/understand/feel after viewing
your story.
- ESSENCE
AND CONTENT ≠
- PROBLEM
FIXATION
Logically, the project’s goal is ideally to solve the formulated problem or take a step towards its solution, i.e., solving the problem does not mean just documenting it: making a report or conducting an interview. This is the fundamental difference between a multimedia storytelling project, in our understanding, from a report or a journalistic essay, whose function is to spotlight an event here and now.
When working with sensitive topics and planning strategic changes, for example, in the area of conflict resolution, our task is much broader and deeper than merely fixing the conflict or its details.
When working with sensitive topics and planning strategic changes, for example, in the area of conflict resolution, our task is much broader and deeper than merely fixing the conflict or its details.
THE MAIN VECTORS OF POSSIBLE APPROACHES TO SOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS:
1
WORKING WITH THE SOURCES
OF THE PROBLEM
Try to make the most comprehensive list of reasons why the problem arose. It’s important to create
an expanded list.
2
IMAGINING AN IDEAL FUTURE
Describe in detail what you imagine society/country/the world to be like where such a problem does not exist.
Describe in detail what you imagine society/country/the world to be like where such a problem does not exist.
3
BREAK THE PROBLEM DOWN AND
PRESENT ITS SOLUTION IN THE
FORM OF BABY STEPS,
which implies
a gradual phased approach to achieving
the goal.
PRESENT ITS SOLUTION IN THE
FORM OF BABY STEPS,
which implies
a gradual phased approach to achieving
the goal.
The Boat—an interactive graphic novel based on the acclaimed short story by Nam Le of 16-year-old Mai, sent alone by her parents on a boat after the Fall of Saigon. The content addresses issues concerning asylum seekers, refugees, conflicts, and human rights.
Chapter 1
SENSITIVE TOPICS
Chapter 3
MODERN MEDIA CONSUMPTION