Explore selected resources covering diverse aspects of narrative work and find practical tools speaking to your specific narrative interests and needs.
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13 results
A Guide to Hope-based Communications
2019
Available in English, Spanish, Thai
The strategic communication manual is designed to help human rights advocates shift from fear-based messaging to a more empowering, solution-oriented narrative. Developed with Thomas Coombes, the guide outlines five key shifts: focusing on solutions rather than problems, emphasizing what we stand for instead of what we oppose, creating opportunities for action, highlighting everyday heroes, and reinforcing a sense of agency with the message “we’ve got this.” By rooting communication in shared values and a vision for a better future, the guide aims to inspire hope, counter cynicism, and reframe public discourse to favor human rights progress.
Be the Narrative – How changing the narrative could revolutionize what it means to do human rights
by Just Labs and The Narrative Space
2019
Available in English
The report focuses on a shift in the narrative of human rights work and how tactical, organisational, and field-wide changes are needed to get the new narrative right and thus, to revolutionize the meaning of human rights work. It highlights new narrative responses on populist strategies, namely culture as response to controversy, cooperation towards crisis, and the narrative of community towards conflict.
How to Message on The Rights of People From Marginalized Groups: A Communications Guide for Organisations Promoting Human Rights
by Civil Liberties Union for Europe
2023
Available in English
This guide is a tool for organisations in the human rights sector that want to communicate more effectively with the public to build
support for human rights-related causes. This includes civil society organisations, foundations, international organisations and national bodies promoting human rights.
The advice in the present guide relates primarily to how to speak to a moveable middle audience among the majority population. That is, an audience who does not, at first glance, consider themselves to be directly affected by the harms inflicted on the marginalised group in question. Put otherwise, the guide is more about how communicators can persuade the ‘majority’ population to support equality for marginalised groups than about mobilising people from the marginalised group.
How to talk about Civic Space: A guide for progressive civil society facing smear campaigns
by Israel Butler
2021
Available in English
This guide supports campaigners in responding to smear campaigns that undermine public trust in civil society organisations working on progressive causes. Drawing on research into public attitudes, it explores how such attacks are used by authoritarian actors to justify restrictions on civic space. Grounded in the EU context, the resource provides practical guidance on framing, including examples of effective narratives, messages, and approaches, as well as common pitfalls to avoid.
How to talk about Democracy: What we know (and don’t know)
by Ryan Gem, Rushikesh Jadhav, Maria Milosh, Aby Dwi Prasetya, Mareike Schomerus and Gideon Too Democracy Narratives Alliance (DNA)
2026
Available in English
This research brief brings together extensive evidence and practice‑based insights on the role of narratives in shaping public understanding of democracy. Drawing on a review of nearly 400 publications and over 150 studies, as well as contributions from more than 30 organisations and experts, it maps dominant narratives about democracy, explores how messaging interacts with deeper mental models, and identifies strategies to rebuild trust and participation. It makes a clear case for coordinated, strategic narrative work as a critical condition for strengthening democratic resilience and countering disengagement.
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