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StoryCorps FAQ

What is StoryCorps?
StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit oral history project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives by recording our stories. StoryCorps is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and several non-profit foundations. You can find out more at www.storycorps.net.
 
When will StoryCorps be in Rochester?
The StoryCorps MobileBooth will be recording in Rochester July 2-25, 2009.
 
Where will the booth be located?
The StoryCorps mobile recording booth will be located at Rundell Library, on the corner of Broad Street and South Avenue downtown.
 
Who does the interview?
A StoryCorps interview is 40 minutes of uninterrupted time for meaningful conversation between two people who know one another well. Bring a friend or loved one to the StoryCorps recording facility, where trained staff will guide you through the process. At the end of your session, you’ll receive a free broadcast-quality CD to share with to family and friends, and a second copy will be archived at the Library of Congress.
 
Can I just walk up to the booth and record?
Reservations must be made in advance. No walkups can be accommodated.
 
When can I make a reservation?
Rochester reservations open on Thursday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. A second round of reservations will open on July 2.
 
How do I make a reservation?
Make your reservation for a StoryCorps recording session online at wxxi.org/storycorps, or call the StoryCorps reservation line at 800-850-4406.
 
Is there any cost for the recording session?
StoryCorps suggest a donation of $25 to help cover costs of recording, archiving, and preserving each interview. You can make your donation at the same time you make your reservation.
 
What should I expect?
The recorded interview is no more than 40 minutes. The whole process takes about an hour. Please arrive ten to fifteen minutes before your scheduled interview time. When you arrive at the MobileBooth with a friend or loved one, a trained StoryCorps Facilitator will meet you to explain the process, make you feel comfortable in our recording space, and sit with you during the interview session.
 
How can I prepare and what should I bring?
No matter how well you know your friend or family member, a little preparation will improve the quality of your interview enormously. We’ve designed a great question generator to make it easy for you. You can find it online:
 
Can interviews be conducted in any language?
Yes. Interviews can be conducted in any language the participants choose. While StoryCorps does not offer translation services, participants can come to the booth and record their story in any language they prefer. Participants who are deaf must bring a speaking interpreter, or let WXXI know that an interpreter is needed.
 
Where can I hear my recorded story, and others recorded here in Rochester?
StoryCorps produces a small number of edited segments of the recorded interviews for broadcast on Morning Edition. You can hear these on Fridays at 6:25 and 8:25 a.m. They are also posted on StoryCorps’ website (www.storycorps.net). In addition, WXXI will produce a selection of the local stories that will air during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on Thursdays, and will also create special programs around the project that will air in the fall. All local stories will be available as podcasts on wxxi.org.