The Positivity Police and Urban Prepping

This week marked the launch of 2 new stories from Great Big Story and Verse. Two very different publications, taking distinct approaches to video content and visual storytelling on the web. 

This is the second story that I have produced for Great Big Story, a CNN-affiliated brand and video content machine, that has stormed the internet with catchy, quirky, and fascinating short stories from around the world. In partnership with Canada Keep Exploring, we featured the Positive Ticketing program in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Started in 2001 by Ward Clapham in Richmond, BC, the program teaches Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers to issue positive tickets to youth seen engaging in good behavior. The tickets, redeemable with community business partners such as roller skating rinks and summer pool time, are awarded to youth seen, for example, crossing the street, helping their sibling on the playground or wearing helmets. Conceptualized by Clapham to foster relationships between the RCMP and the community, and provide role models for at-risk-youth, the positive tickets program has expanded across the globe, now deployed by police departments in over 50 countries worldwide. This is truly an uplifting story. 

Produced by Spēk Pictures for Verse, Bugging Out 101 is the fourth episode in the Second Look series. Verse is quickly becoming a storytelling and technology platform that is redefining traditional linear storytelling. Verse’s innovative approach to storytelling places more power in the hand of the viewer to choose their own path through a rich-content storytelling experience. Bugging Out 101 is the story of Anna Bounds's determination to prepare herself for uncertain events in New York City. After personally witnessing terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and power grid failures, Anna is driven to learn techniques used by urban preppers to provide certainty in an uncertain world. 

Enjoy!