National Day of Listening
Encyclopedia
The National Day of Listening is an unofficial day of observance where Americans are encouraged to set aside time to record the stories of their families, friends, and local communities. It was first launched by the national oral history project StoryCorps
in 2008 and now recurs on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, when families are more likely to spend time together. It was proposed as an alternative to "Black Friday
", a day many businesses see as a high volume pre-Christmas sale day.
Tens of thousands of Americans interviewed one another as part of the National Day of Listening in 2008 http://www.storycorps.org/national-day-of-listening/press, including President George W. Bush
and his wife Laura
, who were interviewed by President Bush's sister Dorothy Bush Koch
.http://www.npr.org/about/press/2008/112408.NationalDayListening.htmlhttp://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081128.html National Public Radio personalities including Scott Simon
, Liane Hansen
, Steve Inskeep
, Renée Montagne, Frank Deford
, Susan Stamberg
, and Noah Adams
also conducted National Day of Listening interviews and broadcast them on the air. http://www.npr.org/multimedia/2008/11/ndol/ndol.htmlhttp://www.radioworld.com/article/70596http://www.kgou.org/newsletter_nov08vol1.php
There are no restrictions on who may conduct an interview as part of the National Day of Listening or what type of interview format may be used. StoryCorps
provides Do-It-Yourself Resources and equipment recommendations to guide people through the interview process. guides are available to help teachers and librarians to incorporate The National Day of Listening into the classroom and library.
StoryCorps
is a national nonprofit organization modeled after the Federal Writers' Project
of the Works Progress Administration
of the 1930s.http://www.newsweek.com/id/183675/page/1 In addition to collecting and archiving interviews at the American Folklife Center
at the Library of Congress, StoryCorps helps Americans engage with oral histories
at the grassroots level. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-27-oralhistory_N.htm
StoryCorps
' first book, Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, was released in 2007.
StoryCorps
StoryCorps is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps grew out of Sound Portraits Productions as a project founded in 2003 by radio producer David Isay...
in 2008 and now recurs on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, when families are more likely to spend time together. It was proposed as an alternative to "Black Friday
Black Friday (shopping)
Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season, similar to Boxing...
", a day many businesses see as a high volume pre-Christmas sale day.
Tens of thousands of Americans interviewed one another as part of the National Day of Listening in 2008 http://www.storycorps.org/national-day-of-listening/press, including President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and his wife Laura
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
, who were interviewed by President Bush's sister Dorothy Bush Koch
Dorothy Bush Koch
Dorothy Walker Bush Koch, often called "Doro", , is the daughter of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, and the youngest sibling of George W. Bush, the 43rd President...
.http://www.npr.org/about/press/2008/112408.NationalDayListening.htmlhttp://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081128.html National Public Radio personalities including Scott Simon
Scott Simon
Scott Simon is an American journalist and the host of Weekend Edition Saturday on National Public Radio.- Life and career :...
, Liane Hansen
Liane Hansen
Liane Hansen is an American journalist and radio personality who was senior host of the National Public Radio newsmagazine Weekend Edition Sunday until her retirement in May 2011...
, Steve Inskeep
Steve Inskeep
Steve Inskeep born , is one of the current hosts of Morning Edition on National Public Radio. He, along with co-host Renée Montagne, were assigned as interim hosts to succeed Bob Edwards after NPR reassigned Edwards to Senior Correspondent after April 30, 2004. Inskeep and Montagne were...
, Renée Montagne, Frank Deford
Frank Deford
Benjamin "Frank" Deford, III is a senior contributing writer for Sports Illustrated, author, and commentator for National Public Radio and correspondent for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO....
, Susan Stamberg
Susan Stamberg
Susan Stamberg is an American radio journalist who is currently a Special Correspondent for National Public Radio and guest host for Weekend Edition Saturday.Stamberg was born in Newark, New Jersey...
, and Noah Adams
Noah Adams
Noah Adams is an American broadcast journalist and author, known primarily for his more than thirty years of experience on National Public Radio. A former co-host of the daily All Things Considered program, he is currently the senior correspondent at the network's National Desk...
also conducted National Day of Listening interviews and broadcast them on the air. http://www.npr.org/multimedia/2008/11/ndol/ndol.htmlhttp://www.radioworld.com/article/70596http://www.kgou.org/newsletter_nov08vol1.php
There are no restrictions on who may conduct an interview as part of the National Day of Listening or what type of interview format may be used. StoryCorps
StoryCorps
StoryCorps is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps grew out of Sound Portraits Productions as a project founded in 2003 by radio producer David Isay...
provides Do-It-Yourself Resources and equipment recommendations to guide people through the interview process. guides are available to help teachers and librarians to incorporate The National Day of Listening into the classroom and library.
StoryCorps
StoryCorps
StoryCorps is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps grew out of Sound Portraits Productions as a project founded in 2003 by radio producer David Isay...
is a national nonprofit organization modeled after the Federal Writers' Project
Federal Writers' Project
The Federal Writers' Project was a United States federal government project to fund written work and support writers during the Great Depression. It was part of the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program...
of the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
of the 1930s.http://www.newsweek.com/id/183675/page/1 In addition to collecting and archiving interviews at the American Folklife Center
American Folklife Center
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC was created by Congress in 1976 "to preserve and present American Folklife" . The center includes the Archive of Folk Culture, established at the Library in 1928 as a repository for American folk music...
at the Library of Congress, StoryCorps helps Americans engage with oral histories
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
at the grassroots level. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-27-oralhistory_N.htm
StoryCorps
StoryCorps
StoryCorps is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps grew out of Sound Portraits Productions as a project founded in 2003 by radio producer David Isay...
' first book, Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, was released in 2007.
External links
- National Day of Listening website
- National Day of Listening FAQs
- Do-It-Yourself Resources
- NPR's National Day of Listening page
- Voice of America article about the National Day of Listening
- USA Today article about the National Day of Listening
- Boston Globe article about the National Day of Listening
- Information about the National Day of Listening from The Atlantic Philanthropies
- StoryCorps book Listening Is an Act of Love