ImMEDIAte News

Stories are a powerful way to relate to one another and engage with the world around us. We believe that every one of us is an expert in our own life and circumstances, and that by sharing our expertise and telling our story we can create positive change for ourselves and our communities. Our expertise is in working with others to help them tell their stories.

Personal Development – a journey for the individual

People make films with us from their own lived experience, and in doing so they are visible, they take control, they build communication skills and gain confidence. They share their experiences, celebrate their identity, develop a sense of belonging and reconsider how others see them.

This helps them feel less isolated and find a sense of purpose.

By advocating for something they believe in, an individual can move from a complaint to a reasoned argument for change and widen their understanding of the big picture.

Community Development – a journey for everyone

By sharing their story, an individual can bring others in their community together to be part of a co-produced solution for social change.

When we walk in other people’s shoes, we understand more about the lives of those around us and listen to each other, building trust and connections. We change and develop our attitudes, have vital conversations, and are able to take a more informed stance on issues.

Sharing stories enables communities to advocate for social change, improve their practice and influence policy.

ImMEDIAte News...

ImMEDIAte News is an advocacy and media literacy process that creates a short, high quality film within the space of half a day. We work with groups of participants on a 1-to-1 basis to create short videos consisting of a direct presentation of a message to camera with accompanying creative visuals.

The process is designed to hand over full ownership of the content of each film to the participant and to help them construct their message in a clear and persuasive way. Participants may wish to celebrate a local service, raise awareness for a cause they feel passionate about, or bring concerns to the attention of local decision makers.

After creating their message, participants work with Media Education to ensure that their video is seen by an audience they have identified, be that councillors, school teachers, family, friends, the general public or other key figures within the community.

Much more than a short filmmaking process, imMEDIAte News is a simple, low-threshold way for a wide range of people to find their voice, discover new ways to use their experiences and capabilities, and to get more involved and connected with their communities.

The imMEDIAte News process can also be applied in a number of wider contexts. Please see http://mediaeducation.co.uk/ourwork/immediate-news for some examples of the different ways we have used imMEDIAte News as a model to achieve different outcomes.