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How digital poetics is working towards making literacy data relatable

Dr Panya Banjoko reflects on the use of digital poetics in improving reading rates and literacy in the community.

Making literacy data relatable

As an award-winning poet, traversing the academic and creative industries I am known for my work as a researcher and cultural organiser. I am a poet, filmmaker, patron for ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ UNESCO City of Literature and founding director of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Black Archive.  My poetic journey began in the early 1990s with writing as a way to process personal experiences, particularly around race, memory, and silence. Much of my work now sits at the intersection of the personal and the historical, exploring absence: what is omitted, erased, or rewritten, and how that absence shapes the self. 

In 2023, I was awarded an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant, which marked a turning point in my work as a published poet. It enabled me to begin moving my practice into digital forms and has led to me experimenting with new approaches to creating poetry and the development of a distinct strand of poetics, ‘docupoetry’. This new practice has enabled me to experiment with how digital poetics can work towards making literacy data relatable, since poetry has long been a tool able to excite the masses, provoke conversations, and inspire social change. 

Data produced by the National Literacy Trust ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Hub in 2018 shows that nearly 40% of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ children fall short in communication, language, and literacy areas of learning in reception year.  The National Literacy Trust’s annual survey on children’s book ownership shows that one in ten children in the UK (in 2024) don’t have a book of their own. The survey also points out that without the educational infrastructure in place children are likely to suffer with their learning confidence and wellbeing and are much more likely to struggle with their GCSEs and be unemployed by their 30s. The Department for Education in 2023 contended that being unable to read narrows the range of work and life opportunities a person can access. Low literacy is linked to poverty and crime too. ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ has the highest crime rate of 35 districts in the East Midlands region and the 10th highest crime rate district of 318 districts in England and Wales. 

Reading, then, is imperative for expanding our horizons, for building our empathy and confidence, and for supporting us on our journeys through life, aside from being a vital skill to possess it is also an enjoyable and pleasurable pastime. If we want people to be responsible members of society, be thoughtful and critical thinkers, deep listeners participating constructively in society, then reading is a good start. Yet ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ as a UNESCO City of Literature with many excellent writers, past and present, including literary greats like Byron, Sillitoe and Lawrence, to literary advocates and activists like George Powe and Leanora (Lee) Arbouin, has a serious literacy problem. 

Engaging Reluctant Readers

The low literacy rate in ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ is disheartening, but it is not unsalvageable. Alongside the city’s work to engage reluctant readers with a team of Literacy Champions, as well as promoting book giveaways such as ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ City of Literature’s Big City Reads free book giveaway campaign for young adults, and the city’s wonderful new libraries, more is still needed to engage and support reluctant readers to soar.  My research fellowship aims not only to keep the topic of books and reading current, but more importantly to make data on literacy more accessible, relatable, and personal to those who might not access surveys on literacy, as a well-informed population is better able to act. 

“My research fellowship aims not only to keep the topic of books and reading current, but more importantly to make data on literacy more accessible, relatable, and personal to those who might not access surveys on literacy, as a well-informed population is better able to act. ”

Dr Panya Banjoko

Making Poetry Personal

Digital poetics or poetry films such as docupoems have the added benefit of being able to transcend not only geographical boundaries but social ones too. My research fellowship explores ways in which poetry can support reading and books to remain at the top of the agenda through the creation of digital poems and docupoems featuring bespoke poetry.

My first project,  , targets young people, reluctant readers, and families, and asks them to consider where they like to read in a fun, engaging, and approachable way. Its goal is to inspire reading by recommending that reading can take place anywhere and at any time. The choice of imagery - a young person reading - the rhythm of the poem, humour, and repetition, makes the message not only memorable, but relatable. The inclusion of music and foley sounds creates extra depth strengthening the importance of the poem’s sentiment. ‘10 Ways to Read a Book’ encourages engagement by presenting books as an exciting endeavour rather than a dull or boring pastime. Digital poetics makes the theme accessible, relevant, relatable and shareable encouraging wider viewership and discussions around reading.

The docupoem, , celebrates ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½’s rich literary heritage while confronting a stark reality: a city full of writers still grapples with low literacy levels. The docupoem becomes both a celebration and an urgent call to action, urging people to read, share, and champion literacy in their communities. It makes the issue of low literacy personal with a bespoke poem which builds on ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ City of Literature’s mission to Build a Better World with Words. The fusion of poetry, photographs from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ City of Literature’s archive, and data on literacy in ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ is a relevant and accessible way to share data and make it even more accessible in this the National Year of Reading.  Docupoems have the potential to encourage more people to engage with reading, and talking more about books, about their own stories of what they like to read, and most importantly what they love the most about books. The combination of poetry and film can be a successful way to encourage people to read more.