[IN PERSON] Oral History in Journalism: In Residence at Sylvan Motor Lodge

Instructors: Suzanne Snider with Guest Instructors: Ari Mejia, Dao X Tran, Emma Brown, Nora Saks
Location: Sylvan Motor Lodge, Hillsdale, New York
Dates: Thursday, January 16 - Wednesday, January 22, 2025*

Please note that Monday, January 20 will be observed as MLK Jr Day and
Inauguration Day through a series of planned and optional activities.

Oral history and journalism were once described as "kissing cousins" by journalist Mark Feldstein, but how, exactly are they related? What lives at the intersection of these two sets of best practices, and how does the ambidextrous oral history-journalist trouble though moments when the practices diverge?

Working with oral history values/strategies alongside journalistic constraints can give rise to a new sensibility or sensibilities. We'll use oral history exercises/ training together with our collective momentum as reporters, documentarians and longform nonfiction writers to encourage more curiosity, play, collaboration and innovation without compromising rigor or loyalty to our respective realms. Sessions will take the forms of mini-presentations, interactive exercises, case studies, tech training/skillshares, listening/screening parties, pitch sessions and movement interludes (yoga, dance, games, meditation) that relate to our training and also help us mindfully pivot from classroom/conversation configurations.

Registration will move from open registration to an application format in mid-November.

Tuition Fee Structure
Thank you for reviewing our tiered fee structure. Please read the descriptions below and be in touch (info@oralhistorysummerschool.com) if you would like support selecting your tuition tier.

Independent Tuition (limited, up to 8 total participants): $2700 (shared double room) + $500/meals or $3000 (single room) + $500 (meals). This is for participants without institutional support. If you are at a salaried job, employed full-time or finance vacations and/or dining out, we ask you to consider our Institutional rate, below. We have a limited number of housing options on-site.

Institutional Tuition (unlimited): $3700 (shared double room) + $500/meals or $4000 (single room) + $500/meals. This is for participants with institutional support to attend trainings or those with professional development funds. We also ask those able to finance vacations or dine out semi-regularly to consider this tier.

Tuition: This all-inclusive tuition fee includes one week of instruction, housing at Sylvan Motor Lodge, an OHSS workbook, e-reader and other digital forms/resources, OHSS canvas tote bag, and all meals (except for Sunday dinner), daily coffee/tea, snacks throughout the day, use of audio equipment, plus access to our alumni newsletter/network.

This workshop is planned as a gathering of a more intimate size, to promote more exchange and also private consultation with guest instructors and colleagues/other participants.

*We are committed to subsidizing and fully funding several seats at the table throughout the year. We are an independent school without institutional or additional funding outside of tuition and our annual fundraiser. Please give what you can through our Giving page or by considering the Institutional tuition even if you qualify as “Independent” categorically so we can keep funds circulating and promote diverse participation in our workshop and field while paying our staff a living wage.