CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE: Populism, Persuasion and the Politics of Storytelling
Details
*PLEASE NOTE: This event is not at our usual venue and will instead be hosted at The Walrus Pub, Ship St, Brighton.
Politics has always been a popularity contest — Long before social media, power belonged to those who could frame events, define the stakes, and capture public imagination. In Britain, from wartime broadcasts to the age of spin doctors and 24-hour news, political success has often depended less on manifestos and more on narrative control.
Today, in a fragmented media landscape shaped by algorithms, outrage, and AI-generated content, the question of what is true — and what is right — feels more contested than ever. Major events are now interpreted in radically different ways depending on political persuasion. The same moment can generate entirely opposing versions of reality, leaving voters disoriented, angry, and polarised.
While some political movements lean heavily on data, expertise, and institutional authority, others deploy emotion, identity, and repetition to powerful effect. Strategies designed to dominate the information space — overwhelming opponents and media alike — can shape public perception long before facts have settled. As media theorist Clay Shirky observed, “we brought fact-checkers to a culture war,” only to discover that facts rarely win on their own.
Join award-winning journalist James Ball and narrative expert John Yorke as they explore the mechanics of political storytelling across the spectrum, examining why some narratives stick while others falter. How are political stories constructed? Why do certain frames take hold? And in a digital world driven by offence, speed, and spectacle, is understanding narrative structure now as important as understanding the facts themselves?
The chair for the evening will be journalist and TV producer Rob Broomby.
John Yorke will be signing copies of his latest book, Trip to the Moon, which will be available to purchase on the night. This event will take place downstairs in The Tusk Room at The WalrusPub, Brighton. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access available at this venue.
- DOORS OPEN : 19:00
- TALK STARTS : 19:30
- AUDIENCE Q&A : 20:30
- BOOK SIGNING : 21:00