Missouri on Mic traveling audio booth will be at COMO200 festival on July 4, 2021, to capture stories of mid-Missourians for the bicentennial. The project is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri and KBIA. A team of Missouri School of Journalism students will record conversations with local residents about their thoughts living in Missouri and their hope for Missouri’s future.
Missouri on Mic made its debut at the True False Film Fest in May and recorded stories of mid-Missourians at the Columbia Farmer’s Market earlier in June. Missouri residents who are interested in having their stories recorded for the project can visit the audio booth at Flat Branch Park in Columbia, July 4, between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. In the fall, edited stories will air on KBIA and archived at the State Historical Society of Missouri.
“This project has been another reminder for our journalism team of the power of showing up, asking questions and just listening to people,” said Janet Saidi, KBIA assistant news director. “As our student journalists and professional team members engage with citizens at these festivals, we are all transformed by the process, and by the magic that happens by just connecting and listening.”
Using a sound-proof mobile booth that is cleaned between each user, along with social distancing measures in place, participants have a chance to safely engage in an intimate and meaningful conversation that will be part of the state’s official bicentennial collection. There is no cost to participants.
In August, Missouri on Mic will be at Together for ’21 Fest, Missouri’s bicentennial festival organized by the State Historical Society of Missouri and the University of Missouri-Columbia, Aug. 6-8 on the MU campus in Columbia. The audio booth will welcome visitors on Saturday, August 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Center for Missouri Studies. Missouri on Mic will travel to Jefferson City for Statehood Day at the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 10 and will be at the Missouri State Fair, daily, in August.
Missouri on Mic is seeking any Missourians, longtime or recent residents, who can offer brief stories, anecdotes, and responses to provided prompts surrounding their experiences as Missouri citizens. Persons who are unable to attend the events scheduled for Missouri on Mic, can still have their story recorded remotely for the project by contacting KBIA at news@kbia.org.