Walkley Foundation’s Storyology Festival – A Must Attend Event for NFPs

For people in the not-for-profit sector who are working to make a connection, build a community and achieve organisational goals, the ability to spin a great yarn is paramount. So the Walkley Foundation’s festival of storytelling – Storyology – is a must attend event in 2017.

Those working in not-for-profit organisations believe in their power to make a difference. When resources are tight and it feels like an uphill battle, one of the most powerful tools in their Mary Poppins-size bag of tricks is storytelling.

As they work to make a connection, build a community, activate that community and achieve their organisation’s goals, the ability to spin a great yarn is paramount. Whether they’re capturing a character or a scene to help potential supporters see the impact they could make through their organisation; or reporting back the impact of an organisation’s work — great storytelling makes it more beautiful, more affecting, more powerful.

Instagram, GIFs, snapchat, YouTube, online campaigns and petitions — it can be hard to know where to start when there are so many options and platforms at our fingertips. Sometimes you just want to talk it over with someone who’s been there, or hear about how someone else rose to the challenge. You need some inspiration. You need… a coffee, and you should also consider getting a ticket to Storyology.

It’s the Walkley Foundation’s festival of journalism and storytelling and you know what? Not for profits belong there too. Speakers from investigative journalism organisations in California, and online news sites in Delhi, and social news networks in Manila, and Facebook in New York – they’re all grappling with the same challenges. How to find the people who will read your story, engage with it and become a supporter.

Storyology will be in Brisbane August 24-26, in Melbourne August 28-29, and in Sydney August 30-31.

In Sydney on August 31, Pro Bono Australia presents a series of “short stories”, a favorite Storyology format where speakers from across the media landscape squeeze one huge idea or passion project into the unreasonably short space of five minutes.

With a theme of “storytelling for impact” you can hear from speakers from a range of platforms and backgrounds describing how they solve communication challenges with great narratives.

Hear how the ability to make simple videos with a smartphone (“MoJo”, as in mobile journalism, for those in the know) has democratised storytelling for people from all walks of life.

Or how a community radio station backed itself to produce a podcast series that made a national splash.

How a science communicator harnesses the principles of clickbait to help people connect with important research.

Or one young editor’s quest to give young people news they can really use, focused on solutions and helping them connect with each other and take action.

The Walkley Foundation is offering a 20 per cent discount for Pro Bono Australia readers. Use the offer code STORYFRIEND2017 at checkout for the full Storyology passes in Brisbane and Sydney.

Check out the whole Storyology program here.

Storyology is a conversation, and you should be part of it. We hope to see you there.

Book your tickets here.