What Is Ethical Storytelling? A Practice Rooted in Respect, Agency, and Care
At Humxn Media, storytelling is the core of what we do. But how we tell stories is just as important as the stories themselves.
For us, ethical storytelling is not a trend or a buzzword. It’s a practice. A framework. A commitment to honoring the people who trust us with their voices and experiences. In this blog, we want to share what ethical storytelling looks like in our work, and why it’s something mission-driven organizations, especially those working in human services, should treat with care.
Defining Ethical Storytelling
At its heart, ethical storytelling means telling real stories in a way that protects the dignity of the people involved. It centers consent, agency, and respect from start to finish. It asks us to think not just about what story is being told, but who gets to shape it, where it shows up, and how it makes people feel.
It’s about asking permission, not forgiveness. And it’s about creating a process that feels as good and intentional as the final film.
Our Three Core Practices
We think about ethical storytelling through three interconnected principles: respect, agency, and honor. These ideas guide our approach across every phase of a project, from the first phone call to final delivery.
Respect
Respect starts at the very beginning. It’s in how we reach out, how we ask questions, how we show up on set, and how we listen. Respect means making sure people feel safe, not spotlighted. It means building trust and working at a pace that meets the needs of the storyteller, not the timeline of the organization.
It also includes compensation. If we’re asking someone to share their lived experience, especially in service of a broader goal like fundraising or awareness, we believe that time and labor should be valued accordingly. That could mean cash, Venmo, or in-kind support, depending on what feels right to the person sharing.
Agency
Agency means giving people real control over how their story is told. That starts in pre-production, where we hold informal conversations to get a sense of comfort, boundaries, and preferred language. We ask what details are off-limits and what parts of the story feel safe to share.
Before anything goes public, we offer participants the chance to review their interview or testimonial and give input. We call this the “first edit.” This helps balance power dynamics and ensures that the person telling the story is the first person who sees it.
We also let people know they can change their mind. If someone watches their piece and no longer feels good about it being shared, we will revise or remove it entirely. No questions asked.
Honor
To honor someone’s story is to acknowledge its weight, its cost, and its value. Especially in human services and nonprofit spaces, it’s easy for organizations to showcase testimonials as evidence of impact without slowing down to consider the emotional labor behind them.
We’re mindful that some participants may have received services or support from the organization asking for their story. That can create unspoken pressure to say yes. So we make it clear that there’s no obligation and no expectation. The act of sharing is a gift, not a requirement.
When it comes to compensation, we follow the storyteller’s lead. Some people prefer direct payment. Others prefer gift cards, resources, or in-kind support. What matters is that the gesture feels meaningful to them, not just convenient for us.
Why This Matters in Human Services
Many of the stories we help tell come from people who have experienced trauma, instability, or systemic harm. These are not just brand stories. They’re personal, often emotional, and sometimes difficult to revisit. That’s why it’s so important to handle them with care.
In the human services space, power imbalances are real. Organizations often have access to funding, media, and influence that the people they serve do not. If storytelling is going to be a part of that ecosystem, it has to be done ethically. It has to be built on consent, clarity, and choice.
When done right, storytelling can be healing, connective, and transformative. When done carelessly, it can retraumatize or reduce someone’s experience to a talking point. We are responsible for knowing the difference and acting accordingly.
“The Process Is Just As Important As the Product”
Ethical storytelling is not just about avoiding harm. It’s about building something better. It’s about changing the way stories are gathered and shared so that people feel empowered, not extracted. When we work this way, the final story feels deeper, more honest, and more impactful—because it was built with care.
Final Thoughts
When we say we care about ethical storytelling, we mean we care about people. Their safety. Their autonomy. Their truth.
If you work in communications or media for a nonprofit, foundation, or mission-driven brand, we invite you to reflect on your current process. Who shapes your stories? Who benefits from them? And most importantly, do the people featured feel seen, heard, and respected?
We’ll be sharing more posts soon with examples from our own projects and lessons we’ve learned along the way. In the meantime, if you want support building a more ethical storytelling process, we’d love to help.
Let’s keep raising the standard together.
