Digital storytelling has been shown to have broad applications. It has been used for promoting mental health, to engage citizens in public history projects, and to support community-building, among other efforts. Even so, several of my respondents and interview subjects wondered about the sustainability of the digital storytelling genre.
Our stories aren't flashy enough to really become "viral" ...But we also don't want to make them sensationalistic. It really still is that population that wants depth that's going to be attracted to listening to them deeply...but how to engage those that don't often do that in this practice? (digital storytelling facilitator & trainer)
Along with seeking to establish a foothold for the genre, practitioners are likewise striving for solidarity. Respondents and interviewees often refer to their digital storytelling colleagues as a “community” and consistently express a desire for additional ways to connect with one another. Practitioners are also seeking ways to demonstrate the relevance and value of digital storytelling. Applications along these lines include its use in community-based participatory research, public health research and health promotion messaging development, as well as for program evaluation and planning. In terms of recommendations for future research, respondents and interviewees alike express an interest in exploring the longer-term impacts of digital storytelling – i.e., What happens after this intimate group process? What is the life of the story beyond the workshop, and how does this process impact the storyteller’s relationship to the story? Back to Stories from the Field...
