Why we chose the digital storytelling nominees: An interview with Zoeann Murphy
The chair of the 2020 World Press Photo Digital Storytelling Contest jury talks about this year’s nominees
Over the last 10 years, advancements in technology have resulted in increasingly sophisticated experimentation, especially when it comes to innovative and immersive storytelling. This has resulted in powerful collaborations between filmmakers, photographers, writers, designers, graphic artists, and other journalists.
And for the last 10 years, The World Press Photo Foundation has been recognizing productions enabled by these advancements in its Digital Storytelling Contest.
This year’s chair of the Digital Storytelling Contest, Zoeann Murphy, also a visual journalist at The Washington Post, says she thinks what we’re seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg for non-fiction digital storytelling: “I think there will just be more of it. More experimentation, more platforms, more formats, more mobile-first approaches, more variety in terms of length and depth. It’s great to keep seeing new approaches.” I asked Zoeann to share with us what exactly made this year’s nine nominees stand apart for the jury:
(Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by production name. Winners will be announced on 16 April during the Awards Show.)
Interactive
An interactive visual story or project in a form other than video, which through its design creates an immersive and/or innovative experience for the user.
Battleground Polyu
DJ Clark/China Daily
“From the moment Battleground PolyU starts, you’re in the action, running through the streets of Hong Kong with the protesters. It’s an extraordinary experience and a fantastic use of 360° video. Filming chaotic protests like this is challenging, but we see how the visual journalist stays steady while navigating the quickly changing dynamics. Photographs and traditional video can bring us moments from these intense scenes, but this 360° piece gives us so much more visual information about what was happening around those moments. Watching Battleground PolyU in a headset is exciting, but even scrolling around the scenes in an online browser is incredibly compelling.”
Common Ground
Darren Emerson/East City Films
“The Common Ground VR documentary’s outstanding use of technology really stood out. The jury appreciated the story’s nuanced look into social justice issues related to housing and gentrification, as well as the experience of physically exploring spaces and their histories in this innovative way.”
River of Forgiveness
Helios Design Labs
“River of Forgiveness elegantly weaves together writing, video, photography, illustration, and mapping to tell the story of an epic journey. As the viewer scrolls through the piece, they learn from Dené leaders about the history of colonialism, the work being done to heal, and a deep commitment to a landscape that has been sacred to them throughout history. Jury members highlighted that this interactive was one of the best examples we saw of a collaboration between the filmmaker and the community telling their story.”
Long
A single linear narrative, or series of linear narratives, on a single topic, produced as a video for the web, and lasting no longer than 30 minutes in total.
A Different Kind of Force — Policing Mental Illness
Ed Ou/Kitra Cahana
“This film takes a hard look at the controversial issue of how police in the United States handle calls involving mental illness. The visual journalists had remarkable access to both law enforcement agents and those suffering from mental illness. Jury members noted that the film focuses not only on the problem, but also on an attempt to develop solutions. We see police officers receiving training about mental health and implementing it as they try to model new approaches to policing.”
Scenes From a Dry City
Francois Verster/Simon Wood/Field of Vision
“This poetic short film has stunning visuals and a compelling story. It’s about a water crisis and inequality in one specific place, but it’s a story that people from many regions in the world can relate to. As climate change continues, the management of limited water resources is increasingly urgent in so many places. The breathtaking camerawork and smart editing left a lasting impression on members of the jury.”
The Hour of Lynching: Vigilante Violence in India
Shirley Abraham/Amit Madheshiya/Field of Vision/The Guardian/Pulitzer Center
“The Hour of Lynching tells the story of Rakbar Khan, a Muslim dairy farmer killed by Hindu cow vigilantes in India. The documentary is intimate, raw, and poignant. The filmmakers captured heartbreaking scenes of grief and mourning. They also captured scenes that give viewers a sense of how polarizing politicians incite violence.”
Short
A single linear narrative, produced as a video for the web, lasting no longer than 10 minutes.
‘It’s Mutilation’: The Police in Chile Are Blinding Protesters
The New York Times
“This is an excellent example of what online news video can do. The jury responded to both the reporting and the power of seeing how the reporting is done. It’s one thing to read about eye injuries caused by police shooting protesters with pellet guns, but it’s another thing to see it up close and to hear the voices of the injured as they wait for treatment inside a clinic. It also stood out that we see the reporter trying to interview authorities. We see him at a press conference asking the Interior Minister questions. His requests for an interview are ultimately denied. At a time when the media is often under attack, capturing scenes that hold the powerful accountable and show how the work of journalism is done contribute to building trust and transparency.”
Russia Bombed Four Syrian Hospitals. We Have Proof
The New York Times
“This powerful video is an incredible example of what can be done in the field of digital storytelling. The use of visual and audio evidence provides a damning picture of war crimes being committed in Syria. The piece is edited in a smart and easy-to-understand way, making this important investigative journalism quickly accessible to a wide audience.”
The ‘Thin Yellow Line’ Standing Between Hong Kong Police and Protesters
Dayu Zhang/South China Morning Post
“The Thin Yellow Line is an excellent news video about a group of self-organized citizens putting their safety on the line to defuse tensions between police and protesters. It’s a news piece that tells the story of a problem, but also focuses on compelling individuals trying to find creative solutions to the problem.”
You can see all the nominees in the 2020 Photo Contest and the 2020 Digital Storytelling Contest at worldpressphoto.org.
