Ethical Storytelling Research

Purpose

Capstone Research for Strategic Communication MA and Literacy & Rhetorical Studies Minor

Description

For my Strategic Communication MA Capstone, I examined the communications practices of anti-trafficking organizations as an avenue to discuss the need for ethical/equitable storytelling approaches I conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with communications professionals working in anti-trafficking and related organizations along with 8 additional subject-matter experts. I also reviewed strategic communication/public relations research and practitioner conversations for discussions of ethics, equity, and power.

In this work, I sought to bridge how communicators can balance their responsibility to create communications that fulfill organizational objects with a deeper responsibility to honor, respect, and consider the best interests of the individual(s) involved. I then recommended work practices for communicators working with victims of trauma and beyond.