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Storytelling
- 1. STORYTELLING MADE EASY Clint Thompson University of Georgia Tifton Campus June 9, 2015
- 2. What makes a great story? • Subject – Make your story worthwhile for the reader. – Agriculture and the environment may not appeal to the “Average Joe.” (How can we make it worth reading or watching?) • Presentation – How we present our story correlates to how many view it. • No imagination, excitement often leads to nobody to watch it.
- 3. What makes a great story? • A catchy lead – When writing a story or producing a video, the first paragraph or 5-10 seconds are essential in capturing the audience’s attention. – A lack of an attention-grabbing “hook” will lead the “Average Joe” away to Facebook, Twitter or Email.
- 4. Subject
- 5. What makes a subject worth talking about? • Stories need to be impactful, interesting (providing people information they didn’t know) and perhaps entertaining. Kudzu Bug • Kudzu bug might not appeal to your audience. • It causes millions of dollars in soybean damage. • Traced back to Japan. • Came to United States on a plane in 2009 and started a family. • Not a problem in Japan. • How can we solve this problem?
- 6. What makes a subject worth talking about? • Research is being done to manage the pest. • What if we can transport the kudzu bug’s natural predator in Japan to the United States? • http://www.caes.uga.edu/applications/gafaces/?publi c=viewStory&pk_id=5142 • This story accomplished two objectives: – It brought attention to farmers, public about a devastating pest they may not have known about. – I talked about research being done at UGA Tifton in trying to find a management solution for kudzu bugs.
- 7. What makes a subject worth talking about? • Sometimes interesting stories can be found indirectly. – Agriculture teachers » Just hired, talked with academic coordinator as a meet and greet. » He informed me of the lack of agriculture teachers statewide. » Tremendous need, attractive salary. » Tie in academic program at UGA Tifton. » Accomplishes two goals: Get word out about UGA Tifton’s academic program and write an interesting story getting input from someone affiliated with your organization. » http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/index.cfm?public =viewStory&pk_id=4659&preview=05.15.15%2013 :47
- 8. What makes a subject worth talking about? • Take advantage of own resources when talking about current events – Tropical storms » UGA climatologist says Georgia could be due a wetter summer in 2015. » Lack of tropical storm activity led to Georgia drought in 2014. » http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/index.cfm?public=vie wStory&pk_id=5366&preview=05.21.15%2013:51 – Reality T.V. star » Not often one of our own is a television star. » Austin French appeared on ABC’s “Rising Star.” » Former member of the Georgia 4-H Clovers & Company. » http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/index.cfm?public=vie wStory&pk_id=5271&preview=05.21.15%2013:58
- 9. A great lead
- 10. The lead • Nothing captures a reader’s attention like a catchy lead. – “If you take half your writing time crafting your lead, you have not wasted your time.” Bob Knight, writing coach – People read what catches their eye. If the lead is not attention grabbing, readers will not read the rest of the story. – Remember two things: • The essence of the story. • The reader’s stake in the story.
- 11. The lead • Intercropping: Growing cantaloupes/mel ons, cotton side by side to save money, time and resources. – “Cantaloupes and cotton might seem like an odd couple but they’re actually proving to be a perfect pair.”
- 12. The lead • Auto-steer technology aiding peanut farmers. “Auto-steer technology is driving peanut farmers to higher crop yields and bigger profit margins.”
- 13. The lead • New way to detect for truffles in pecan orchards. – “Prized by chefs and foodies, pecan grove truffles have long been the secret jewels of Georgia’s pecan orchards.”
- 14. The lead • Feral hogs eating away at farmers’ land and profits. – “Feral hogs may be prime prey for hunters, but to Georgia farmers they’re the ultimate predators.”
- 15. The lead • Leads set the tone for the rest of the story. – Make sure pertinent information is near the top of the story. • Keeps reader engaged in the story. • Also, important information at the top prevents editor from cutting it when placing your story in the newspaper. – Intercropping melons and cotton. • Lead: “Cantaloupes and cotton might seem like an odd couple but they’re actually proving to be a perfect pair.” – Next paragraph: Planting the two together is proving to reduce time and costs while generating the same, if not more, profit for some Georgia farmers.
- 16. The lead – New way to detect for truffles in pecan orchards. • Lead: “Prized by chefs and foodies, pecan grove truffles have long been the secret jewels of Georgia’s pecan orchards.” – Next paragraph: However, new research and truffle searching methods may soon bring the fungal delicacy to more Georgia tables.
- 17. Constructing a story – Quotes can be your best friend. • Often what a person says is more important than what you say. – University of Georgia football plays on turf bred on the UGA Tifton Campus. Interviewed football coach Mark Richt about turf: » http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/index.cfm?p ublic=viewStory&pk_id=4733&preview=05.20. 15%2010:47 – UAVs the future of farming? » http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/index.cfm?p ublic=viewStory&pk_id=4881&preview=05.20. 15%2010:48
- 18. What is your story? – You have to know your story to tell it. • The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has 3 objectives: – Research » Scientists, Extension agents are conducting research on various subjects on taxpayer money. We have obligation to tell them what their money is being used for. » More often than not, you get interesting stories. • Coneless pine trees. • Intercropping two different crops on the same field.
- 19. What is your story? – Extension » Agents are UGA’s eyes in the trenches. • What problems are farmers facing in different counties? • What are counties doing to promote 4-H? • What FACS programs are making a difference in their respective counties? » Know your agent series • Another way to promote UGA CAES. • Way of introducing agent to their respective county. • http://extension.uga.ed u/about/agents/index.cf m
- 20. What’s your story? • Academics – Three campuses in Georgia; Athens, Griffin, Tifton; should be appealing to students across Georgia » How is this done? Through current students’ testimonies. • http://students.caes.uga.edu/tifton/profiles.cfm » Through past students’ testimonies. • http://www.tiftongazette.com/news/local-business- owner-attributes-success-to-uga- degree/article_2870ada2-862d-11e4-93ff- 275e6a73a177.html • http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/news/southscapes/ spring14/rutland-farms.html
Editor's Notes
- This template can be used as a starter file for presenting training materials in a group setting. Sections Sections can help to organize your slides or facilitate collaboration between multiple authors. On the Home tab under Slides, click Section, and then click Add Section. Notes Use the Notes pane for delivery notes or to provide additional details for the audience. You can see these notes in Presenter View during your presentation. Keep in mind the font size (important for accessibility, visibility, videotaping, and online production) Coordinated colors Pay particular attention to the graphs, charts, and text boxes. Consider that attendees will print in black and white or grayscale. Run a test print to make sure your colors work when printed in pure black and white and grayscale. Graphics, tables, and graphs Keep it simple: If possible, use consistent, non-distracting styles and colors. Label all graphs and tables.
- Subjects: Make it worthwhile for the reader. Why should they care? For example: 2013- A lot of rain in the summer: Too much rain can lead to disease in crops, such as watermelons. Too much disease leads to lack of watermelon crop. Lack of watermelons leads to increased cost, the consumer is paying at Walmart, Publix or fruit stands. Presentation: If you don’t appear passionate or enthused about what you’re talking about, the audience won’t be either. For example: Reading your kids a story at bedtime. You just don’t read it like a normal book. You change your voice up and down or sound like somebody else. You do that to get their attention and keep them interested. Same thing with writing a story or telling it through a television news report. What can you do to make it more interesting?
- Writing a lead is the key to writing a story. A majority of the people are less likely to keep reading a story that has no thought or imagination in grabbing a reader’s attention from the onset. Attention spans are short, shorter now with so many other options to consider.
- This is another option for an overview using transitions to advance through several slides.
- May seem elementary but provide reader with information they may not already know. I am a huge sports fan, can’t get enough. But if I’ve already read a story about how the Braves were terrible in last night’s game, why would I read it again from a different perspective. They still were awful. Maybe if you add in some new information as to how awful. Same thing with a news story. What makes your story different than any other that has been written before? That makes it worth reading. Even provide an update on a story. What’s different about cotton prices now than six months ago? Kudzu bug impact Soybeans are used in cooking oils. Also used in feed for animals.
- Your objective should be to call attention to your university and the work it’s doing concerning this pest.
- On the surface, agriculture teachers by themselves are not necessarily story worthy. But when you tie in the drastic lack of teachers around the state, and the fact our campus has academic program that has graduated successful ag teachers in the past, this is a good story in the making. Why are their lack of teachers when salary is so good? A story that builds off story I wrote, talk with past graduates. What did they learn from UGA Tifton that helped prepare them? What is it like now in the trenches?
- A big part of my job if knowing my resources and who I can talk with about certain stories that may come up as far as current events. Tropical storms are necessary to avoid long droughts. Reality T.V. Star
- This is another option for an overview using transitions to advance through several slides.
- How you start out your story often tells a lot about the type of story and writer a person is about to read. Half of writing time: Almost the majority of your time should be devoted to how to capture the reader’s attention within the first 20-25 words. That’s how important it is to make the reader want to read and know more. Remember 2 things: Essence: What is the story about? Reader’s stake: Why should the reader care? How will this affect them?
- Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Georgia. How can we sustain it and make it grow even more? Manage your resources better and more efficiently. Intercropping: Wouldn’t necessarily put these two crops together. Research has proven that cantaloupes and cotton can be grown together affectively. Build off the fact that these are two different crops but can be grown together.
- What is the future of agriculture? Technological advancements, like auto-steer technology. Should be easy to come with a lead when talking about auto-steer (driving) and agriculture. This lead captures what the story will be about. Why should the reader care? Farmers are achieving high crop yields and bigger profit margins. The average joe is intrigued by the auto-steer technology.
- Chances are the average joe will not know much about truffles. They are in high demand in the gourmet food industry. Can be added to pasta, lobster or even grits. They are very valuable: One pound of truffles can sell for as much as $300. Just so happens truffles can be found in pecan orchards. They’re located beneath the surface, one or two inches beneath the soil. Lead highlights that truffles are valuable, where to find them:
- Feral hogs are causing problems for Georgia farmers. They are eating peanuts and other crops. Story was about feral hogs and what can be done to stop them. Lead: Play off the fact that hogs can be hunted but for Georgia farmers they are the hunter.
- Once the lead is written, everything else should fall into place. Keep important information near the top. I once was a sports writer and what is the one thing people want to know on Saturday following a Friday night football game: What was the score? Have to keep it near the top to keep the reader engaged. Same when writing news story. Important information should always flow from top to bottom. This also keeps editor from cutting it when placing it in the newspaper. Intercropping example.
- Truffles Lead: We know that they’re valuable and where some can be found. How do we know if our pecan orchards have truffles:
- Give a brief overview of the presentation. Describe the major focus of the presentation and why it is important. Introduce each of the major topics. To provide a road map for the audience, you can repeat this Overview slide throughout the presentation, highlighting the particular topic you will discuss next.
- Give a brief overview of the presentation. Describe the major focus of the presentation and why it is important. Introduce each of the major topics. To provide a road map for the audience, you can repeat this Overview slide throughout the presentation, highlighting the particular topic you will discuss next.
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