How to Use Social Media to Enhance Storytelling
By Brianna Hay, Apollon editor spring 2021
Social media has exploded in the last decade, offering all individuals the opportunity to become their own storytellers and have their stories heard worldwide. Tanya Klich, a lifestyle reporter for Forbes and Teresa Priolo, a Channel 5 reporter in New York City were interviewed during a Fairfield University sponsored event. When asked their opinions on what makes a story great, both Klich and Priolo note that a good story doesn’t have to be some insanely unique event to you personally. Most great stories are ones that are relatable to the wider audience.
To stand out, Klich and Priolo agreed that a story should:
Contain a story arc that includes a beginning, middle, and end, and takes a listener or viewer on a journey towards enlightenment
Pull from available resources to enhance the story you seek to tell
Find one source or voice that truly speaks to the credibility of the piece
Create a compelling visual format to enhance the emotional impact
Once you have developed a story so that it contains all the aspects that will make it stand out, the importance of social media comes into play in order to allow the stories to reach a wider audience. Klich and Priolo spoke about how social media has transformed the stories they tell and how it adds something more to the delivery.
Instagram live is one platform that Klich believes people who want their stories to get out should utilize, as it provides the opportunity to put a voice to the words that are written. This platform personalizes and humanizes the author to make the attachment to the story much greater to viewers.
YouTube is another social media platform that Priolo notes has transformed the scope of the stories she reports on. A story on Lyme Disease started off as a job she didn’t think would reach a large audience, but after it was posted on YouTube by the news station, it blew up and people from all over the world contacted the station to let them know about how much this piece impacted their view of their experience with the disease.
Creatively and strategically crafting posts through platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok has awarded the global community an opportunity to hear, engage, and respond with others about relevant stories occurring all over the world. Priolo advises that once all of the elements of a good story are in order, using social media to convince others that the story is worth being told is a great way to ensure the story’s worth is recognized.