NPR's StoryCorps recording military stories on IU's Bloomington, Indianapolis campuses

  • Oct. 24, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- An initiative of StoryCorps, the oral history project known to listeners of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," will visit Indiana University's Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses in November.

The StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative shares oral histories from the men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces after 9/11, as well as from their families. It aims to collect interviews from nearly 1,500 participants nationwide.

Personnel with the Military Voices Initiative will be on IU's Bloomington campus Nov. 12 and 13, and on the IUPUI campus Nov. 14 and 15. Twelve, 40-minute recording opportunities are open at each campus. Slots are open only to current IU students, staff and faculty at this time, although some could become available to local residents if space allows.

Interviews are conducted between two people who know each other, with a trained facilitator to guide participants through the interview process. Participants receive a CD copy of their interview, while a second copy is archived with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

The deadline for signing up to participate in the oral history project is Oct. 29. Those interested in participating on the Bloomington campus should contact Veterans Support Services director Margaret Baechtold at 812-856-1985 or mbaechto@indiana.edu. Those interested in participating on the Indianapolis campus should contact Winnie Wilson with IUPUI's Office for Veterans and Military Personnel at 317-278-9163 or gibenefi@iupui.edu.

"We were so excited when StoryCorps reached out to us about bringing this program on campus," Baechtold said. "It is a wonderful opportunity to let our local veterans share their stories, and we are looking forward to this event as part of our Veterans Day commemoration this year."

StoryCorps staff members will be able to speak to members of the media about the oral history project's initiative, as will participants who have indicated they would like to speak to reporters. Media outlets are not allowed inside the recording space while a recording is taking place but are welcome to take photos or video before or after a recording.

Contact Bethany Nolan with IU Communications at 812-855-6494 or nolanb@indiana.edu for more information about media possibilities.

StoryCorps
One of the largest oral history projects of its kind, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews from more than 80,000 participants since 2003. StoryCorps produces segments that are broadcast on NPR's "Morning Edition." For more information, follow StoryCorps on Twitter or Facebook.

A select number of interviews with the Military Voices Initiative will be edited for national broadcast and aired on NPR’s "Weekend Edition." The project is made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and The Boeing Co.

One of the largest oral history projects of its kind, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews from more than 80,000 participants since 2003.

One of the largest oral history projects of its kind, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews from more than 80,000 participants since 2003.

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BethanyNolan