“Narrative” is a buzzword that has been coopted by different industries and disciplines, and as a result it’s being used differently by different people .

Rather than choose the “right” definition, it’s more useful to understand the ways the term is being used. Below are four current uses of the word “narrative”. Learn more on The Narrative Home.

A useful rule of thumb: narrative scholars usually use “narrative” as short for “narrative text” and the descriptor is what the story is about. For example: “climate change narratives” are narrative texts about climate change.

In contrast, media & communications are more interested in understanding the opinions expressed in a narrative text, so “narrative” references a point of view and the descriptor indicates whose point of view it is. For example, “the media narrative” is the point of view of the media.

However, when media & communications are referencing the general point of view of the public — the descriptor will indicate the topic and the narrator will not be named. For example, “the climate change narrative” references the dominant public opinion about climate change.

Learn more about terminology differences here.