Zandt Deanna

Deanna Zandt — Public Profile

Deanna Zandt is an American media and technology strategist, author, and visual storyteller recognized for translating complex digital issues into accessible, human-centered narratives. She is widely known for advocacy at the intersections of technology, social justice, and equity, and for helping mission-driven organizations build communities through smarter, more inclusive communications.

Fast facts

• Full name: Deanna Zandt
• Born: Sat Aug 16 1975, Binghamton, United States
• Based: New York City (USA)
• Fields: Digital strategy, social media, storytelling, sketchnoting/graphic recording
• Notable: Author of “Share This! How You Will Change the World with Social Networking” (Berrett-Koehler, 2010)

News and updates

Through 2024, Zandt continued expanding her visual storytelling practice, creating live sketchnotes and illustrated summaries for conferences, webinars, and research briefings. Her public commentary has focused on platform accountability, online safety, algorithmic bias, and building resilient digital communities. She has been a recurring presenter at civic tech and media gatherings (e.g., Personal Democracy Forum, SXSW) and appears on panels discussing narrative change and inclusive communications. Recent public updates also highlight workshops on humane productivity, community care for organizers, and creative practices that reduce burnout in movement spaces.

Recent projects

• Visual notes and graphic recording for nonprofits, foundations, and newsrooms to make policy, research, and strategy work more legible to broader audiences.
• Equity-centered storytelling trainings for teams seeking to align digital content with values of accessibility, inclusion, and consent.
• Guides and sessions on safer online engagement, harassment response, and audience listening for advocates and journalists.
• Collaborations with community organizations to develop narrative frameworks and campaign toolkits that invite participation and measure learning, not just clicks.
• Personal newsletter and studio updates sharing process notes on creative resilience, mutual aid in communications, and what works (and doesn’t) in social platforms.

Publications and media

Her book “Share This! How You Will Change the World with Social Networking” explores the cultural and political power of everyday sharing and remains a reference for values-driven social media. Zandt’s essays, interviews, and talks have addressed identity and power online, data ethics, and the future of digital organizing.

Social media and web

• Website/portfolio: deannazandt.com (primary hub for work samples, contact, and newsletter links)
• X (Twitter): @deanna
• Instagram: @deannazandt (often features sketchnotes and studio work)
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deannazandt
• Mastodon/Decentralized: Active on federated platforms; check the website for the current verified handle/server.

Speaking and services

Zandt offers keynotes, workshops, and advisory for organizations seeking durable digital strategies: message architecture, audience research, content systems, and visual facilitation. Booking and inquiries are typically handled via her website contact form or LinkedIn.

Focus areas and approach

• Inclusive storytelling: centering people’s lived experiences and consent in content design.
• Platform literacy: demystifying algorithms and analytics to inform humane strategy.
• Safety and care: practical frameworks for online harassment, moderation, and boundary-setting.
• Creative translation: using illustrations and sketchnotes to bridge expertise and public understanding.

Notes

This profile summarizes publicly available information through 2024. For the most current news, projects, and verified social handles, please refer to the official website and linked profiles above.