Campus News

WUKY Boosts StoryCorps' National Day of Listening

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 15, 2010) — On Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, WUKY will represent Lexington in the third annual National Day of Listening, a national holiday started by the acclaimed oral history nonprofit organization StoryCorps in 2008. The National Day of Listening is an effort to encourage all Americans to honor a friend, a loved one, or a member of their community by interviewing them about their lives.

National Day of Listening participants are encouraged to record their National Day of Listening interviews using equipment that is readily available in most homes — from cell phones to tape recorders to computers or even pen and paper. StoryCorps has created a free Do-It-Yourself Interview guide with equipment recommendations and interview instructions available online at www.nationaldayoflistening.org

If help is needed with recording interviews, WUKY is partnering with the Lexington Public Library for 2010 National Day of Listening. Interviews with individuals will be recorded at the Northside Branch Library on Russell Cave Road just off of New Circle Road. Recording sessions with Charles Watson can be scheduled by calling (859) 231-5590.

“The idea of listening during the holiday season has clearly resonated with people across the country,” says StoryCorps founder Dave Isay, winner of five Peabody Awards and a "Genius" Fellowship from the MacArthur foundation. “The National Day of Listening, which coincides with Black Friday – traditionally the largest shopping day of the year – provides a meaningful alternative to holiday consumerism and proves that simply listening to one another is the least expensive and most meaningful gift we can give.”

WUKY General Manager Tom Godell said, “Recording holiday memories and stories is a great way to connect with family and friends and provide an oral history of your relationship with them for future generations. This also serves as the kick off our sponsorship of StoryCorps’ upcoming visit to Lexington in May and June of 2011.”

To see how more people across the country are celebrating this year’s National Day of Listening, visit: www.nationaldayoflistening.org. The 2010 National Day of Listening is sponsored by the Fetzer Institute.

About StoryCorps

Founded in 2003 by MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Dave Isay, StoryCorps’ mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share and preserve the stories of their lives. Each week, millions of Americans listen to StoryCorps’ award-winning broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition. StoryCorps has published two best-selling books: "Listening Is an Act of Love" in 2007 and "Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps" in 2010. For more information, or to listen to stories online, visit www.storycorps.org.

About WUKY

WUKY is the oldest FM public radio station licensed by a university and is also a charter member of National Public Radio (NPR). The station’s focus on public service and education throughout the years has yielded an expansive list of widely known personalities in radio and television, including Noah Adams (NPR), Len Press (WUKY & KET) and Tom Hammond (NBC). It continues to produce talented personalities who make their contributions to the broadcasting audience. WUKY also continues to focus its unique noncommercial programming and spotlight the university, the city of Lexington, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In March of 2011 the station will celebrate its 70th anniversary.

About The Fetzer Institute

The Fetzer Institute advances love and forgiveness as powerful forces that can transform the human condition. The institute engages with people and programs working to bring the power of love and forgiveness to the center of individual, organizational and community life. We create and support projects that serve as healing forces in a divided world, and that spread knowledge about how individuals everywhere can be more loving and forgiving in daily life.