Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative 1 - Just a Girl with a Microphone
Jan 16, 2024
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The podcast explores the purpose and ethics of documentary making, challenging stereotypes and giving voice to marginalized individuals. It delves into the physically demanding nature of gymnastics, the pressures faced by young athletes, and the unexpected opportunities that come with success. The speaker also discusses the importance of finding ethical frameworks in documentary storytelling and navigating the profit-driven media landscape.
The rise in demand for true stories has raised ethical questions about the responsibilities of documentary producers and the impact of storytelling on subjects.
To address these concerns, the host sets out three new rules for her upcoming series, including transparent communication with subjects, fair compensation for their time and vulnerability, and granting subjects more agency in the documentary process.
Deep dives
Changing Landscape of Storytelling
In today's media landscape, first-person true stories have gained significant popularity. Documentaries and true stories make up a substantial portion of our media consumption. The value of sharing personal stories is recognized in various fields, including politics, advocacy, advertising, and talk shows. This rise in demand for true stories has led to opportunities for artists and producers to create documentary projects that aim to educate and make a difference in people's lives.
Questions on Documentary Ethics
The podcast episode delves into the ethical questions surrounding documentary production. The host reflects on her own experiences as a documentary audio producer and questions what it means to tell other people's stories. She grapples with the impact and responsibility of storytelling, considering who documentaries really serve and what good they actually do. The host shares a candid conversation with her former documentary subject, highlighting the complexities and nuances of portraying someone's story accurately and the potential discrepancies between the subject's perspective and the final product.
New Rules for Documentary Production
To address the ethical concerns and strive for a fair documentary production process, the host sets out three new rules for her upcoming series. The first rule emphasizes transparent communication with subjects, making sure they understand the nature of documentary storytelling and what they can expect from the project. The second rule challenges the traditional notion of not paying subjects, as the host believes compensation is a fair trade for their time and vulnerability. The third rule grants subjects more agency in the documentary process, allowing them to set the course for what is covered and ensuring their approval of the final product.
A Personal Journey to Redefine Documentary Making
The podcast episode concludes with the host's personal journey to redefine her approach to documentary making. She acknowledges the need for new ethical frameworks to navigate the evolving media landscape. The host expresses her love for documentaries and her desire to find a way of working that aligns with her values. Through her upcoming series and by questioning established documentary practices, she aims to create a documentary experience where both documentarians and subjects get what they want and find a balance between storytelling and personal integrity.
Jess used to think making documentaries was good for her subjects and good for the world. But she’s not so sure anymore. With this series, she's throwing out the old rules of documentary production and trying out some new ones.
Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative is written, hosted and produced by Jess Shane. Sara Nics is the story editor. Sound design, mix/mastering by Michelle Macklem. Production support from Mona Hassan. Cover art is by Justin Broadbent. Jess’s bibliography is available here.
Support for this project was provided in part by the International Women’s Media Foundation. Special thanks to Eleanor McDowall and Chioke I’Anson.
For Radiotopia Presents, Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.
Learn more about Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.