Our Version Media is inviting organisations to sponsor a Mobile Storytelling workshop so that more people can learn digital media skills.
It’s part of our commitment to challenging the media’s negative narratives about black people, and to increasing both positive and authentic stories – by empowering people to tell their own stories, on their own terms.
Our 2020 media survey of black people living in our hometown of Southampton showed the importance of this. It found that persistent negative stereotyping harms people’s self-esteem, wellbeing and life chances. While negative portrayal had a negative effect on wellbeing, positive and authentic portrayal had a positive effect.
Through community activism and digital media, we’re making real stories more visible, upskilling individuals and communities to shine a spotlight on their real lives, diversity, and neighbourhoods, counteracting negative stereotypes at the same time.
We teach people how to create, film and edit impactful videos using a smartphone. It’s called Mobile Storytelling and now more and more people across the city have the skills and confidence to tell their own stories. Almost every day on social media, we’re seeing content that people have created using the skills we taught them. Read what they say about it.
How can you help? For our first three years, we provided our Mobile Storytelling to local people from black and other communities demonised by the press for free. We did this on a voluntary basis too, meaning we didn’t get paid. For us, the mission was more important than the money; we were satisfied with the happiness and social impact that our work generated. However, this was – and is – not a sustainable way to run a social enterprise. Now, we partner with like-minded local organisations who buy or sponsor our workshops so that more people can learn the skills to amplify local voices.
Please contact us to discuss buying or sponsoring a workshop. You can buy a workshop for your communities, staff or services users, or you can sponsor a workshop for local residents. Whichever you choose, you’ll be supporting our mission to amplify local voices.