In a fourth video post on narrative concepts* I look at the different ways temporality can be used in factual storytelling, different choices that can be made about the narrator, and the principle of showing rather than telling.

The video was made for students on the MA in Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism and the MA in Data Journalism at Birmingham City University. Links mentioned in the video include:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a film all about temporality, with time running backwards for the main subject, and this video about the use of slow motion in the film.
• The Guardian longform story which uses present tense to describe a regular event
• How-to Writing Tip-“Show, Don’t Tell” with T. P. Jagger
• An episode of Reply All which switches between showing and telling (and between then and now) to inject movement into the story

A series of video posts from my teaching can be found at this link.

*The other videos are:

1. How narrative concepts can help journalists
2. Elements of narrative for factual storytellers
3. How narrative structures can help you write quicker, and better

Building on last week’s video post on narrative concepts, this latest video explores how journalists can think about different elements of narrative and their role in our stories — from Mieke Bal’s fabula, stories and texts, to considering character and settings, and how both can be used to create movement to engage the audience.

The video was made for students on the MA in Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism and the MA in Data Journalism at Birmingham City University. A couple of other videos are mentioned in it: firstly, this Twitter video story made using Apple Clips; and secondly, Ira Glass’s advice on storytelling, embedded below.

A series of video posts from my teaching can be found at this link.