Covering conflict in the media can be very challenging. Compassion fatigue towards the media and their reporting on lasting conflicts unfortunately is a reality. People are often tired of the news coming from conflict areas and they have a hard time relating to the numerous victims. Last year the documentary For Sama made a huge impact and attracted a lot of attention and a large audience that got emotionally very affected by seeing the film. In this livecast we talk with journalist Fréderieke Geerdink and For Sama director Waad al-Kateab about narrative techniques in the award-winning documentary and how they benefit to reporting on war and conflict. 

You can watch this True Stories Livecast now here from your own sofa 

On October 6th, 13th and 20th we present three inspiring livecasts in collaboration with Pakhuis de Zwijger. During this series we’ll talk with the creators of impactful journalistic productions from all over the world. We’ll discuss how they have used narrative techniques successfully, without losing their journalistic integrity. We will talk about the narrative techniques with the creators of the award winning documentary For Sama, bestseller author Rebecca Skloot and New York Times and She Said editor Rebecca Corbett and many more!

Photographer Ilvy Njiokiktjien, member of the internationally awarded collective VII Photos talks about her long term project Born Free together with Evelien Kunst. In this podcast Kunst and Njiokiktjien zoom in on what you need to create your own independent visually driven story that can be published on more than one platform. What do you need to organize for yourself before you can embark upon a long term project like Born Free? 

How can talking in a “chipmunk voice” help to make a breathtaking, award winning podcast? Andy Mills, audio producer for the New York Times (works for the The Daily), shares strange and wonderful insights, and shameful mistakes, that led to the creation of Caliphate, winner of a Peabody award for best podcast.

Get inspired online by true stories! Together with our speakers, we have found other forms for the True Stories conference. Check out all our podcasts, talks and online sessions here!

Every year, a Flemish-Dutch editorial team chooses the top ten narrative journalists: the master storytellers, in Dutch Meestervertellers. In 2017 an all-English version was organized: Anthology.

Check out online lectures, sessions and workshops from our previous conferences!