Daniel Meadows: “The world of the media is only going to be digitized once”

[Chris Goward]

Daniel Meadows delivered an informative and enthusiastic lecture. As one of the icons of the digital storytelling movement, he painted a vivid picture of a medium that seeks to be expressive and meaningful.

The work produced is probably well received by its audience. In my opinion this is because the stories and format are simple. The viewer has less visual information to absorb and is able to appreciate the story more.

The video clips from the ‘Capture Wales project’ did not particularly excite me but I understand what the creators were trying to do. I thought the story by Allen Jeffreys stood out from the others because it was an honest and well delivered story that engaged the viewer.

Of course the whole point of digital storytelling is to tell a story. If the subject matter is simply a pair of shoes however, I don’t really see the point aside from a very small amount of comedic value. In this respect content plays a significant part in the story.

Digital storytelling is essentially the practice by which ordinary people can tell a particular story using digital technology. The idea is not exactly a brain wave but it works for what it sets out to do. The videos are more individual and human in contrast to what is produced commercially. The viewer can relate to the stories.

With reference to the clips played in the lecture, should we really get excited about a collection of pictures popping up on a screen with someone narrating a story? As Meadows said himself "the world of the media is only going to be digitized once," So why not make the most of it and focus on things that explore the full benefits that the media has to offer?