What is Witnify?
Have you ever participated in or witnessed a big moment in history? Do you know someone in your life who has? Our mission is to preserve and feature great first-person accounts on historical moments such as the Arab Spring, the March on Washington, the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the September 11th attacks, etc. from people who have not yet found a platform to share what they have witnessed. Our site launched on August 28, 2013 with the belief that there are untold viewpoints on important events all around the world and we are passionate about collecting these different perspectives because we want these meaningful and life-changing moments to be known and enjoyed by a large audience. Our main content is from users like you who share their stories about being part of something big in history. We also aggregate content from the web and produce content with our various partners as well.
What does “Witnify” mean?
The term comes from a combination of “witness” and “testify.” To Witnify your story is to record or testify on what historical icon or big event in history that you witnessed.
Why do we care about first-person stories?
The world’s understanding of history is told through the experiences of witnesses. We are passionate about collecting first-person accounts because we want these stories to live on for posterity. We hope to have more people come forward with their stories on witnessing a historic victory or loss, knowing a legendary figure, being part of an iconic moment or influential movement, experiencing warfare or a natural disaster, etc. We believe that our collective human history can only be intelligibly and richly understood if more of these first-person accounts exist and are widely told and shared.
What is a Witnify story?
Stories on Witnify are about being part of a historic experience. Examples of stories currently on Witnify include: Listening to Martin Luther King, Jr. move a crowd with his words, a family’s adversity during Hurricane Katrina, a GI’s memories of Vietnam, the impact Woodstock had on a young man, the sorrow on hearing about President Kennedy’s assassination over the radio, and the exuberance of winning a gold medal at the Olympics, and more. These stories make up our collective history and each one helps us better understand the past, present and, we hope, the future.
You can record your story through our “Add My Story” page. There is no cost or limit to submissions.
Do we focus on video content?
Our site contains a lot of video content for a few reasons. First, we want to take advantage of the fact that more people have access to the internet than ever before; therefore, they may want to learn about historical events through a video experience. Second, stories that capture the actual voice and face of the person speaking feels readily intimate and can resonate better with a curious audience that seeks to have a human-to-human connection with history.
But Witnify provides and accepts submissions of text material, audio accounts, and photographs. A great written account can be just as moving and powerful as a video interview.
How can I submit my story?
There are many ways for individuals and organizations to participate with Witnify. Here is a brief overview of some ways for you to record your story:
- Upload Your Story: This is the easiest way to submit a story with us. Follow the guided process on the “Add My Story” page, in order to upload a video, audio recording, photo(s), or to write-up your textual account of your experience. If you are having any trouble at all, please feel free to send us any questions at info@witnify.com.
- Witnify Office: Witnify will bring portable recording equipment to your location to record up to six 40-minute interviews per day. Organizations across the country have used these visiting sessions to celebrate anniversaries and milestones, add a personal voice to fundraising and marketing materials, and provide a meaningful Witnify experience to their community. In order to make an appointment with us, please email us at info@witnify.com.
How can I partner with Witnify for my classroom, organization, community, or company?
Witnify works with communities and businesses to discover and preserve stories for specific historical events. If you would like to partner with us, please email us at: info@witnify.com. Also, Witnify offers resources to educators who would like to incorporate Witnify into the classroom, including a Witnify Instruction Guide, a customizable letter to parents, a flyer, and an educators’ toolkit. We’d love to hear from you!
What is your contact information?
Our office is located in Washington, D.C. at:
1607 N 22nd St. NW Washington, D.C. 20008
For any email inquires, please email us at info@witnify.com.
Can I find Witnify on social media platforms?
Yes. Please follow us at @Witnify on Twitter and visit our Facebook or Tumblr for new stories every day. Share with your friends!
