In the age of digital connectivity, sharing oral history interviews has become more accessible than ever before. By publishing your interviews online, you can transform these precious resources into a global repository of knowledge, enriching the historical landscape and preserving the voices of those who have shaped our world.
This guide will delve into the steps involved in publishing your oral history interviews online, providing a roadmap for effectively sharing these invaluable narratives with a wider audience. From preparing your interviews for digital publication to choosing the most suitable platform and obtaining necessary permissions, we will explore each stage of the process, ensuring that your valuable content finds its place in the digital realm.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Prepare Your Interviews for Online Publication
Before embarking on the journey of publishing your oral history interviews online, it’s crucial to ensure they are well-prepared for the digital realm. Here are some key steps to take:
1. Transcription: Transform the spoken words of your interviews into written text. This makes the interviews more accessible to people who may not be able to listen to audio recordings or prefer to read the material.
2. Indexing: Indexing refers to the process of organizing and tagging the content of the interviews to make them easier to search and find. This can be done by creating a table of contents, keyword index, or other type of searchable list. Indexing can also involve assigning timestamps to specific events or statements in the interviews, making it possible to quickly locate and reference specific portions of the audio or transcript.
3. Tagging: Tagging is a valuable tool for oral historians that can help them to make their interviews more accessible, to organize their interviews, and to analyze their interviews. By using tagging effectively, oral historians can make their interviews a more powerful tool for research and education.
4. Metadata Creation: Provide detailed information about your interviews, including title, author, date, subject matter, and any other relevant details. Metadata helps users understand the context and significance of the interviews.
Step 2: Choose a Suitable Platform for Publication
The digital landscape offers a variety of platforms for publishing your oral history interviews online. Consider your target audience and the desired presentation format when making your selection.
1. Academic Repositories: These repositories, such as the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and the Oral History Online project, are designed to store and share scholarly materials, making them ideal for preserving and disseminating oral history interviews.
2. Digital Storytelling Platforms: If you want to create interactive multimedia presentations that incorporate your oral history interviews, platforms like StoryMapJS, Knightlab, and ThingLink offer engaging ways to showcase your narratives.
3. Social Media Platforms: Leverage the reach of social media platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud to share your interviews with a wider audience. These platforms can also foster discussions and engagement around your content.
4. Your Own Website: Consider creating a dedicated page or section on your website to showcase your oral history interviews. This provides more control over the presentation and allows you to integrate the interviews with other content on your site.
Step 3: Obtain Interviewee Consent
Before publishing your oral history interviews, it’s essential to obtain informed consent from the interviewees. This ensures that they understand how their interviews will be used and that their privacy is protected. A release form is typically used to formalize this consent.
Step 4: Promote Your Interviews
Once your oral history interviews are online, actively promote them to reach a wider audience. Utilize social media platforms, reach out to local media outlets, submit your interviews to relevant academic repositories, and present them at conferences or events.
Additional Tips for Success
Consistency: Maintain a consistent format for all your interviews to ensure ease of navigation and understanding.
Accessibility: Make your interviews accessible to people with disabilities by providing transcripts, audio descriptions, and closed captioning.
Quality: Capture high-quality audio and video recordings to ensure clarity and enhance the viewing experience.
Targeted Promotion: Identify your target audience and tailor your promotional efforts accordingly to reach the most interested individuals.
Regular Updates: Keep your interviews updated with any new information or corrections to maintain accuracy and relevance.
Final Thoughts
As you conclude your journey of publishing your oral history interviews online by following the above steps and additional tips, remember that your work holds immense significance. These interviews are not merely recordings of the past; they are bridges that connect us to the experiences of others, fostering empathy, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the human story.
By sharing these precious narratives with the world, you are contributing to the preservation of history and enriching the collective understanding of the past. Your interviews have the power to inform, inspire, and connect people across generations.
Remember to always be kind, stay positive and learn to unwind.