These mandatories serve as a framework to ensure consistency, impact, and alignment across all storytelling efforts. They focus on specific elements—such as showcasing impact, using authentic voices, or celebrating resilience—that each story must incorporate to effectively convey the intended message and connect with the target audience. Ideally, all stories should integrate at least two of these mandatories.
DEMONSTRATE BROADER IMPACT IN EVERY STORY:
Ensure each story showcases its significance beyond the individuals featured, emphasizing the wider influence on the community and beyond.
Example: Highlight a medical research project that not only transforms the lives of individual patients but also informs policies or best practices on a national level, showcasing its ripple effect across healthcare.
Example: Highlight a medical research project that not only transforms the lives of individual patients but also informs policies or best practices on a national level, showcasing its ripple effect across healthcare.
SHOWCASE COLLABORATION:
Use vivid examples of how innovative minds come together to drive progress and breakthroughs.
Example: Share the journey of a multidisciplinary team working on sustainable energy solutions, with each researcher bringing their expertise to create a groundbreaking innovation, emphasizing the power of collaboration.
Example: Share the journey of a multidisciplinary team working on sustainable energy solutions, with each researcher bringing their expertise to create a groundbreaking innovation, emphasizing the power of collaboration.
SHOW THE MAJESTY OF THE PLACE:
Show how the University’s unique setting fosters discovery, collaboration, and growth.
Example: Showcase a story of a geology class taking field trips to Utah’s stunning landscapes, with students drawing inspiration from the environment to fuel their studies and future research.
Example: Showcase a story of a geology class taking field trips to Utah’s stunning landscapes, with students drawing inspiration from the environment to fuel their studies and future research.
FEATURE AUTHENTIC VOICES:
Integrate personal stories from students, staff, alumni, and faculty to create connection and authenticity.
Example: Tell the story of an alum who was the first in their family to attend college, highlighting how their experiences and connections at the University of Utah shaped their career and impact on their community.
Example: Tell the story of an alum who was the first in their family to attend college, highlighting how their experiences and connections at the University of Utah shaped their career and impact on their community.
FRAME SUCCESS AS A JOURNEY:
Portray each breakthrough as part of an ongoing journey, with one success opening doors to new challenges and possibilities.
Example: Follow a startup from a student entrepreneurship program that experienced initial set backs but, with persistence and support, eventually launched a product with global impact, illustrating growth as an ongoing process.
Example: Follow a startup from a student entrepreneurship program that experienced initial set backs but, with persistence and support, eventually launched a product with global impact, illustrating growth as an ongoing process.
USE COMPELLING VISUALS TO ENHANCE EACH STORY:
Pair stories with photos, videos, or infographics to make the impact tangible and relatable.
Example: Pair a story about cutting-edge lab research with photos of scientists at work, short video clips of experiments, or infographics that explain complex concepts in a relatable way.
Example: Pair a story about cutting-edge lab research with photos of scientists at work, short video clips of experiments, or infographics that explain complex concepts in a relatable way.
FOSTER A SENSE OF SHARED PURPOSE:
Reinforce that everyone at the University is part of something bigger, tied to a collective mission.
Example: Highlight a student-led sustainability initiative where everyone from administrators to students and local community members contribute to an annual campus clean-up, emphasizing collective responsibility.
Example: Highlight a student-led sustainability initiative where everyone from administrators to students and local community members contribute to an annual campus clean-up, emphasizing collective responsibility.
CELEBRATE RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION:
Highlight stories that reflect the community’s grit, determination, and industrious spirit.
Example: Share the story of a Ph.D. student who overcame personal and academic challenges, highlighting their hard work and resilience, which led to a significant discovery in their field of study.
Example: Share the story of a Ph.D. student who overcame personal and academic challenges, highlighting their hard work and resilience, which led to a significant discovery in their field of study.
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