StoryCorps’ MobileBooth to revisit Pensacola
Since its inception in 2003, StoryCorps has been providing Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs the opportunity to record and share the story of their lives. For the past seven years, StoryCorps has cataloged more than 30,000 interviews and archived them at the Library of Congress.
Earlier this year, Pensacola hosted a successful visit for StoryCorps, where they gathered stories of people’s lives and experiences along the Gulf Coast.
In late July, the University of West Florida’s public radio station WUWF 88.1 FM was contacted and asked to host StoryCorps’ MobileBooth from Dec. 15 to 21 as part of an initiative to gather stories related to the Gulf Coast oil spill. The idea is similar to other special initiatives StoryCorps has had in the past.
StoryCorps hopes to glean a realistic view of how the oil spill has affected people and altered the environment and economy of northwest Florida.
“This is a great opportunity for people whose lives and businesses have been affected by the oil spill to record their stories for posterity,” said Lynne Marshall, director of promotions for WUWF Public Media.
After being recorded, the interviews will be placed on file both at the local Pensacola Tryon branch library and at the Library of Congress’s Folk Life Center. Segments of StoryCorps interviews are broadcast on NPR’s “Morning Edition” each Friday.
People are encouraged to bring a friend or loved one to the MobileBooth for the interview. StoryCorps believes this allows people to be as honest as possible and makes the interviewee feel at ease.
“The heart of StoryCorps is the conversation between two people who are important to each other,” said Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps, on the company Web site.
A representative from StoryCorps will be at the WUWF studio located on the UWF main campus on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. Those interested in taking part in the MobileBooth oil spill project are invited to attend the presentation or e-mail Lynne Marshall at lynne@wuwf.org.
