Support Lisa Russell's New Start Up

On October 6, 2016, I delivered a TED Talk for Johnson & Johnson, "Can Big Data Save Us From Poverty Porn?"

During my talk, I elaborated on the ethical concerns I struggled with as a Westerner who travels around the world for UN/NGO agencies.  In a field dominated by humanitarian or charity-driven messaging, that can often come across as exploitative (ie poverty porn), I embarked on a career trying to tell and curate stories that are accurate, respectful and responsible.

I have spent the last 10+ years making, screening and curating these types of films and I have developed a pretty keen sense of what types of messaging works for what type of audience. And I can tell you these things because I have spent many years working hard at it. But what I can't do is prove any of it.  But maybe Big Data can.

Enter StoryShifter.


StoryShifter is my new tech startup and is focused on building a highly curated go-to site for creative content about humanitarian issues that is more accurate and responsible.  It is built as an entertainment portal that brings arts and culture together for the social good. In addition, each posting about a new film, or song, or poem around any global development issue (or SDG) comes with a series of "action steps."   These include rating and sharing the content, taking a survey, making a donation, signing a related petition or supporting a brand.  It will appeal to those who appreciate that every second they spend on our site and every click they make, benefits the social good.

StoryShifter also takes the principles of Big Data - collecting users content consumption - and analyzing it against subsequent advocacy-oriented options to see what actually appeals to users and drives them to take action.  Reports will be generated quarterly and distributed to communications experts and content producers in order to show which content appeals to which demographics.  Ultimately, I hope this will lead to StoryShifter producing original content. 

As I embark on the next phase of my career - by entering the tech and start up world - I hope you will choose to support me.  As an independent filmmaker, I've done a lot already with a little.  I'm ready to take my work and my passion to the next level.

Thanks for stopping by.