How to Tell Stories With, Not About, Communities

In a world awash with content, communities are tired of being documented but never truly seen. Too often, well-intentioned filmmakers, journalists, and researchers parachute into neighborhoods with cameras, extract community narratives, and leave, sometimes without even sharing the final product. What’s left is a trail of unmet expectations, distrust, and a sense of exploitation.

But there’s a better way.

Non-extractive, community-engaged digital storytelling is not just a technique, it’s an ethos. It’s about shifting power, building trust, and ensuring that the process of telling a story benefits the people whose lives shape it. Whether you’re a documentarian, student, media professional, or activist, here’s how you can begin to tell stories with communities rather than about them.

Start With Relationships, Not a Script

Before turning on your camera, turn up your curiosity. Spend time in the community. Ask people what they care about. Be transparent about who you are, why you’re interested, and what you hope to create, but be ready to change your plans. The story you thought you came to tell might not be the one they need told.

Tip: Introduce yourself without filming equipment. Attend local events, volunteer, or just show up to listen, long before you start to record anything.

Practice Ongoing, Informed Consent

Consent isn’t a one-time form but a process. People may feel comfortable at first, but boundaries can shift. Keep checking in. Let them see the footage. Let them say “no” even after the fact.

Tip: Build in time for people to review interviews or clips. Use tools like shared drives, transcripts, or even printed storyboards to facilitate feedback.

Collaborate on the Narrative Arc

Who decides what the story is? Too often, it’s the storyteller, not the community. But non-extractive storytelling means co-authoring the message. Let people guide what’s emphasized, what’s omitted, and what tone the piece takes.

Tip: Consider holding a community story circle through a group conversation about what the narrative could or should be. Let multiple voices shape the direction.

Leave Something Behind

Storytelling should offer more than exposure. Can your work support a community archive? Can it be used in local schools? Can you offer media training, equipment, or mentorship in return?

Tip: At the start of your project, ask: “What would make this feel worthwhile to you beyond just being filmed?”

Credit and Compensate Generously

If someone shared their story, labor, or expertise, recognize it. That could mean listing them as co-authors, giving honoraria, or ensuring they get invited to panels and screenings.

Tip: Budget for community compensation from the beginning, just like you would for sound editing or travel.

Let the Community Own the Story

Who owns the footage? Who decides where it’s shown? Ethical storytellers give communities meaningful control over their representations, especially when dealing with sensitive content or histories that have been misrepresented.

Tip: Use shared copyright agreements or Creative Commons licenses that honor community control. Consider community-hosted platforms instead of corporate channels.

From Subjects to Storytellers

Non-extractive storytelling is about shifting power from extractive models that treat people as “content,” to collaborative models that respect them as co-creators. This approach takes more time, more humility, and often, more emotional labor. But it results in stories that are richer, more nuanced, and most importantly more representative.

As one elder storyteller put it: “I’m not your subject. I’m your neighbor. Tell our story like you live here, too.”