Receive Inquiries from the Media

Last year’s 50th anniversary of the Year of Birmingham renewed interest in what happened in our city in 1963. The door is open for us to share our accounts of what it was like to be a kid at the time.

Kids in Birmingham 1963 is a rich resource for journalists, historians, film makers, writers, bloggers, and others who are looking for people to interview. If you’re willing to share your story with the media and others, please check the box INQUIRIES FROM THE MEDIA on the Submit Your Story form. We will e-mail to you any relevant inquiries we receive. You can decide whether to follow up on the inquiry and whether to be interviewed. And you can stop receiving inquiries any time; just write to KidsInBirmingham1963@gmail.com.

For this site to be useful to the media, we must respond quickly to their inquiries. Once you agree to receive inquiries, please watch for e-mails and respond promptly. If you want to be interviewed, but can’t take time right away, just say when.

Remember, Kids in Birmingham 1963 will never give your contact information to the media or anyone else without your permission.

Tips for Talking With the Media

To make the most of the interview, it’s a good idea to be prepared before contacting the media. Here are some suggestions:

• Ask yourself why you want to tell your story. This can help you decide what points to cover. For example, you might want to share your story because you were an eyewitness to a historic event. Or you might want to share your experience to offer wisdom to today’s young people. Or you might feel that your side of the story has been misrepresented or underreported.
• Jot down the points you want to cover. Decide which parts of your experience you will or won’t share. Think about what questions the interviewer is likely to ask and prepare your responses.
• During the interview, stick to what you planned to say. If you don’t understand a question, ask the interviewer to explain it. If you can’t or don’t want to answer a question, you can always say so.
• Keep in mind that anything you say to a reporter — in person or by phone, letter, or e-mail — can be used in the story.
• When you contact the interviewer, ask for his or her full name, contact information, and the newspaper, blog, Web site, or TV or radio station he or she represents.
• You may ask the interviewer to alert you when your story will be broadcast or published.