In this paper, the opening of a new phase in our project called True Stories is discussed. We are investigating the uses community groups might make of hypermedia technology in telling their own story. We describe where we have got to so far, and some of the theoretical background, and try to locate what we are doing in relation to the participatory design tradition. As we now move towards working with groups whose stories may be contested, contentious, or painful, we need some further development of our theoretical and methodological base. Using ideas and examples from several authors, we open up a discussion about how plurality, dissent and moral space can be preserved. Following Landow in observing that hypertext provides a natural medium for collage, we note that community stories have features which make collage an appropriate representational form for them. We finally suggest a model of dialogue derived from Freire as an appropriate practical vehicle for running projects attempting to articulate stories of community.
