Last week, we launched a five-month programme in partnership with AFJ-K to engage journalists on how they can promote alternative narratives.
It was clear from the first session that this is not just another training. Journalists didn’t just learn about investigative reporting; they challenged, uncovered, and reimagined storytelling. They explored the ethics of reporting, the responsibility of truth, and the weight of amplifying unheard voices. They examined credibility—not just of sources, but of themselves—what it means to earn public trust and tell stories that demand action.
The real shift happened when participants moved beyond conventional reporting angles to develop alternative narratives that didn’t reinforce stereotypes. They reframed issues, uncovering perspectives that rarely make the headlines, challenging dominant narratives, and bringing forward stories that better reflect the realities of their communities.
And then came the realisation—journalism is not just reporting. It is justice, civic engagement, and power.
This is why we embarked on this journey. Over five months, this programme—led by Winnie Kamau, President of the Association of Freelance Journalists-Kenya (AFJ-K)—will equip journalists, storytellers, and community activists with the skills to tell deeper, more impactful stories.
Participants are engaging in core areas that define modern storytelling:
✔ Investigative Journalism – Strengthening research, verification, and storytelling techniques to uncover hidden truths.
✔ Data Journalism – Learning how to find, analyse, and visualise data to make reporting more factual and credible.
✔ Alternative Narratives – Challenging stereotypes and shifting one-dimensional stories by uncovering deeper, more authentic perspectives.
✔ Emerging Technologies in Storytelling – Exploring AI, digital tools, and solutions-based journalism to expand how stories are told.
✔ Story Pitching & Grants – Understanding how to develop compelling story ideas and access funding to support independent reporting.
This is not just about skill-building—it’s about ensuring that stories are told with accuracy, fairness, and the power to drive change.
The Power of Narratives: More Than Just Words
Stories are not just communication tools; they are the primary way humans make sense of the world. Narratives define reality—what people see as possible, what they consider normal, and what they believe is worth fighting for. When repeated often enough, stories shape public perception, policy decisions, and community identity. They don’t just reflect reality; they create it.
When external actors or stereotypes control narratives, they distort realities, erase agency, and make it harder for people to act on what truly matters. Why? Because narratives are more than just words—they tap into deep-seated beliefs, emotions, and collective memory, making them incredibly powerful forces in shaping action.
The Repeated Story Becomes the Truth
Humans instinctively seek patterns to make sense of the world. It becomes accepted as common sense when a narrative is repeated frequently—whether in media, policy discussions, or casual conversation. This psychological phenomenon, known as the “illusory truth effect,” explains why misinformation, stereotypes, and biased narratives persist even when contradicting facts are available.
For example, if the dominant narrative about a community focuses only on poverty and aid dependency, that becomes the prevailing perception. Over time, even members of that community may internalise this story, shaping how they see themselves and what they believe they can achieve. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where opportunities are ignored, and systemic change feels impossible.
Emotion Drives Action More Than Facts
People don’t act on facts alone—they act on stories that move them. Research has shown that narratives rooted in emotion—especially fear, hope, injustice, or identity—are far more effective at shaping public opinion and mobilising action than dry statistics or logical arguments.
For instance, climate change debates are often filled with data, yet what truly shifts perspectives are powerful stories: the family forced to relocate due to rising sea levels, the farmer whose crops failed due to unpredictable weather, or the child suffering from pollution-related health issues. The power of these stories lies in their ability to create a personal connection and urgency, something raw data alone struggles to achieve.
This is why dominant narratives, whether in governance, development, or civic engagement, must be carefully examined. If the stories told consistently frame communities as passive recipients rather than active agents of change, then civic participation declines. If people believe their voices don’t matter, they stop trying to make them heard.
Narratives Dictate What Is Possible
Beyond shaping perception, stories set the boundaries of what people see as possible. Narratives of oppression, corruption, and struggle can become so ingrained that they define expectations. Communities begin to see themselves through these lenses, believing that change is out of reach. Conversely, narratives of resistance, innovation, and collective power inspire people to act.
For example, Kilifi is often reduced to tourism, drought, or struggle. If these are the only stories told, it reinforces the belief that Kilifi’s future is limited to these themes. But when narratives of entrepreneurship, community innovation, and problem-solving emerge, they redefine what is possible. They provide new scripts for people to follow, new identities to adopt, and new aspirations to pursue.
Why Alternative Narratives Matter
Across the world, communities are trapped in repetitive, incomplete narratives that fail to capture their full reality. Africa, for example, is often reduced to stories of poverty, conflict, and corruption, overlooking its innovation, resilience, and progress.
Corruption is framed as an inherent failure of African leadership, ignoring the global financial systems that enable it. Poverty is reported as a result of local mismanagement rather than a structural issue tied to economic inequality. Climate change coverage centers on international summits, while the immediate, local realities of communities facing its effects remain untold.
At the local level, many regions are defined by a single narrative that erases the complexity of life within them. Without independent, in-depth storytelling, critical issues remain hidden, civic spaces weaken, and people lose the ability to advocate for change.
But when people have the tools and platforms to tell their own stories, the power shifts. What was once invisible is recognised. What was once ignored becomes urgent. And what was once just another place on a map becomes a community seen, heard, and understood on its own terms.
Investing in Stories That Drive Change
To ensure that impactful stories don’t just remain ideas, we will also provide story grants to support selected journalists in pursuing in-depth stories. By eliminating financial barriers, we are opening up opportunities for journalists to tell the stories that would otherwise go untold.
This initiative is about ensuring that communities reclaim the power to shape the narratives that define them. Whether through traditional media, digital platforms, or grassroots storytelling, narrative infrastructure is essential for ensuring that governance, civic engagement, and development are rooted in truth, context, and lived experience.
Why This Matters Now
At the Open Institute, we do not see storytelling as just a tool for journalism—it is an essential part of civic engagement, governance, and social progress. Narratives influence how communities mobilise, how leaders respond, and how change takes shape.
When people have the power to define their narratives, they are better positioned to influence the decisions that affect their lives.
This is why we are investing in narrative power—not just to improve reporting but to ensure that the stories shaping civic engagement, governance, and development are rooted in truth, context, and the lived experiences of those who matter most—the communities themselves.
#NarrativePower #StorytellingForChange #CivicEngagement #WhoTellsTheStory
