Small and Steady Wins the Race: Microstorytelling for Campaigns
Session Type(s): Training
Training Tag(s): Communications
Starts: Saturday, Jul. 15 3:45 PM (Central)
Ends: Saturday, Jul. 15 4:45 PM (Central)
Room: Williford A
When amassing content for the long haul, it’s time to think smaller. Powerful, memorable stories don’t require massive monitors, video shoots and thousands of dollars: instead, mobilize 100 supporters to tell a tale in 15-second segments. Not every piece of content needs to belabor the issues. You can create tweets, teasers and small pitches that capture the mood, spirit and flavor of your campaign. Microstorytelling is scalable, sustainable, phone-based and makes digital organizing a group effort rather than a losing battle for a few tired staffers. Just as we ask folks to chip in small amounts like $5 or $10, we should feel comfortable asking them to dedicate 15, 30, or 60 seconds to amplify your impact.
Trainer
Janani Sreenivasan
Janani Sreenivasan helps campaigns tell their stories and energize their audiences across a wide range of digital platforms. She came to this work from the worlds of sketch comedy, improv, and filmmaking, getting her feet wet as an email strategist on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign (not those emails). Having lost her sense of humor on November 9, 2016, she began rebuilding it by working with 270 Strategies and, now, with Do Big Things. Specific interests include messaging for red-to-blue races, refining the voices of millennial candidates, and telling stories centered on immigration and naturalization issues.
Janani holds an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa, has presented two short comedies in film festivals, and has mocked #45 in The New Yorker. She is also a theatre director, actor, and composer.
Other sessions: What to Do When Your Email Program Hits a Plateau