What is the TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge (TSDigs)? Now more than ever, nonprofits need to be able to tell their story digitally. But, many times they lack the confidence, knowledge, tools to get started, or need a little extra support to get going. The TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge (TSDigs) is an annual campaign, open to local and international participants and groups, combining instruction and friendly competition into a hands-on media making project. Designed for first time and amateur storytellers, the project provides organizations the training, resources and inspiration to create and tell their story through video and digital pictures. This year, we’re very excited to include an “emerging media” submission category for organizations incorporating games, mobile tech, apps, infographics, or data to tell their stories. During this one month challenge, we host a series of live webinars and interactive events, and highlight content and tools to help nonprofits produce a one minute video or 5-picture slideshow, telling their own story. Organizations submit their entry and then have marketing collateral to keep as a vital resource for promoting their work and connecting to their constituents. After entries are submitted, a panel of judges selects the very best entries to win terrific prizes to take their digital storytelling to the next level. Some of last year’s prizes included Cisco Flip Cameras, Flickr Pro Accounts, Citrix Collaborative Services (GoToMeeting, GoToMyPC), Adobe Editing and Production Software, Sliderocket Pro Accounts, Adobe training classes, and Seagate Hard Drives. There is also an Audience Choice Award selected by the community. Winning and notable entries are then screened in San Francisco and Livestreamed globally.

What makes TSDigs different? TSDigs is a teaching event, and created with beginners in mind. The Challenge exists to give nonprofits a fun way to learn, apply and gain the tools they need to go out and produce their own digital story, something they can use regardless if they win. It also serves as an opportunity to grow and connect our community and highlight our partners.

We’re going global. There are so many amazing stories that come out of the work that each of you do. In the work that the local organizations you serve are doing. We need to work toward a coordinated effort to tell and redistribute those stories throughout the network in manageable ways. How can you work with us? Here are a few levels of proposed engagement: [LEVEL 1] SOCIAL MEDIA/PR – Spread news of the competition throughout your community; share and forward educational resources and links; re-tweet and re-post content. [LEVEL 2] INTERACTIVE ENGAGMENT – Register and participate in some of our interactive events like webinar offerings or Google Hangouts. POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES: International Tweetchat: Interested partners can participate in our first coordinated international Tweetchat across timezones. Select partners will be given a timezone and a few hours to host a Tweetchat. One comprehensive Storify will summarize the global online events. Google Hangout: Interested partners can join in on two opportunities to meet past winners and judges. Social Media Roundups – Interested partners can participate in featured “tool and resource roundups” over coordinated hashtags, blog posts featuring innovation, and pre-recorded video content. [LEVEL 3] COORDINATED ON-THE-GROUND STORYTELLING EVENTS – Partners will receive tools and resources to produce digital storytelling themed events. These piloted storytelling events during the main campaign seek to unify and enrich our global pool of stories to share throughout the network.

For more information email: [email protected] TIMELINE OF ON-THE-GROUND EVENTS - To occur starting mid-March through April 2013 STRUCTURE - Two available tracks of engagement that will be supported by TechSoup. Your local organizer can choose to host either a discussion based event or a breakout style workshop event. Presentation/Discussion – to educate and inspire These presentation/discussions can be guided by a guest speaker, a local organizer, or eager volunteer, and seek to create opportunities to educate on how to tell and produce a digital story. Discussion Starter Kit: can include TechSoup and community resources, how-to’s, blog posts, webinars, pre-recorded video content, PowerPoint presentations, discussion questions, and possible access to an expert guest. Exact resources TBD Breakout Workshops – to facilitate and create These workshops can be guided by a guest speaker, a local organizer, or eager volunteer, and seek to create opportunities for digital creation and targeted collaborative learning. Workshop Starter Kit: can include TechSoup and community resources, how-to’s, blog posts, webinars, pre-recorded video content, PowerPoint presentations, discussion questions, and menu of online tools. Exact resources TBD Some additional participatory activities to consider • Storytelling Booth – Perhaps you have some more skilled videographers in your midst? Enlist their help in capturing real-time stories of workshop attendees in action – post and share on YouTube! • Enlist Local Engagement – Perhaps you know of someone in your own community doing work in digital creation, design, production, curation, or other mixed media activities – enlist their help and support!

What’s your story? 3