Change the Narrative, Change the World (2020)

Change the Narrative, Change the World: How Immigrant Representation on Television Moves Audiences to Action looked at the portrayal of immigrant characters on 59 scripted television shows that aired last year, and surveyed television viewers on how three immigration storylines changed their willingness to take action in the real world on immigrants’ behalf.

I designed the report and all launch materials, including social, web, and email graphics and launch event decks. I was especially happy with some of the juxtapositions of screencaps from the shows studied with the research findings.

Full report here (large PDF).

Table of Contents spread from the report, with a lavender section bar across the top of the page and a pure yellow background for the columns in the center of the spread.

First spread from the Executive Summary, introducing the report and summing up the two content analysis and audience survey sections. The top right is a lavender-tinted photo of characters from the studied TV show Superstore, rushing openmouthed to the left towards the introductory paragraph.

Spread from the Executive Summary on the Survey portion of the report and its general findings and responses to immigration storylines. In the bottom right are two Superstore characters, smiling.

Spread from the Executive Summary. The right page is a lavender-tinted screenshot from Orange is the New Black of a Latina character in handcuffs. Beside her is the quote 'Those who felt negative emotions had more inclusive attitudes and were more likely to take immigration-related actions; this was due in part to being transported into, or immersed in, the story world. Those who felt positive emotions were more likely to take high-investment immigration actions.'

Spread from the report with a graph showing emotional responses to storylines in the shows studied. In the bottom right is a photo of a mostly Black crowd of women in prison from the show Orange is the New Black, looking up above the camera.

A spread from the Content Analysis section of the report, analyzing the number of unique immigrant characters and how their representation compared to real-life U.S. immigrant demographics.

A spread from the Recommendations for Storytellers section of the report.

A spread from the Methodology section of the report, discussing recruitment for the study. On the right is a still from the show Orange is the New Black, of a crowd of women with their hands raised.

Social graphics: