WUKY Welcomes StoryCorps to Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 19, 2011) — StoryCorps, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving and sharing the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs, kicked off its visit to Lexington today.  StoryCorps, which will be recording interviews in Lexington through June 25, is being hosted by WUKY, the University of Kentucky's NPR station.

As part of today's kickoff, Lexington Legends President and CEO Alan Stein and his wife, state Sen. Kathy Stein were the first interview, followed by Keeneland CEO Nick Nicholson and his brother, Kentucky Horse Park Director John Nicholson.  The interviews took place in a StoryCorps MobileBooth, an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio.  The MobileBooth is parked on North Upper near Main Street next to the Lexington History Museum.

To make a reservation for a 40-minute interview, call StoryCorps' toll-free reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or visit storycorps.org. StoryCorps requests a donation of at least $25 for each MobileBooth interview.  If participants cannot afford to meet the suggested donation, they may participate at no cost to ensure that StoryCorps remains a free public service.

StoryCorps plans to collect 180 interviews with residents in the Bluegrass region.  WUKY will air a selection of local interviews and segments of select interviews may air nationally on NPR's "Morning Edition."  With participant permission, all StoryCorps interview will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.