“I’ll Be Here:” Reflections on Representation and Research Communication Through Zine Work

Abstract

This article explores the decision-making process that culminated in the creation of a zine as a responsive research communication tool. The zine “I’ll Be Here” emerged from research conducted with community organizations in three Ontario cities as an alternative format to return research findings to participants in a form more accessible than a conventional academic manuscript. This reflective piece not only draws attention to the limitations of academic writing for knowledge mobilization, but also amplifies the need for research communication strategies capable of encapsulating the richness of knowledge producers’ experiences. Exploring the intricacies of communicating social science research effectively and contemplating the extension of responsive reciprocal research values into writing, this article emphasizes the potential of creative research communication methods like zine work to be effective, accessible, and inclusive avenues for knowledge mobilization.