Write a diary on the 12th of May and you can be part of the Mass Observation Archive.Details from the Mass Observation website.
Since the 1930s, ordinary people have written to Mass Observation about their experiences of key events including the Munich Crisis, Blitz, rationing, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, Falkland’s War, September 11th 2001, and Brexit. This is how you can help us create a record of the pandemic:
Become a Mass Observer
Our panel of Mass Observers are currently writing about Covid-19 and are keeping diaries documenting their experience of the pandemic. You can sign up to join them here, there are no criteria for becoming a writer. As a member of the Mass Observation Panel, you will receive our special Directive on Covid-19 and future Directives on a range of topics such as mantelpieces, gender and Brexit. You can choose whether you just respond to the Covid-19 Directive or respond to more Directives.
Keep a journal of your experience of the Covid-19 pandemic
Please get in touch, if you would like to submit a regular diary but not join the Mass Observation Project Panel. We ask you to take a look at this document which explains some points that you may want to consider before sending your diaries or reflections to the Archive. Please also consider keeping a diary on 12th May.
Writing by community groups, schools or other groups.
We would really welcome contributions from school children and wider community groups. This could be a journal, drawings or writing in any style to record your experience. You could also take part in our 12th May Diary Project.
You can send in your contribution individually or as a group. Please see our guidance notes which explain some points you may wish to consider before sending in your contribution to the Archive.
12th May Diary Project ‘10th Anniversary’
The Mass Observation Archive is conducting its annual diary writing day on the 12th May 2020. This is the 10th anniversary of the modern project. We anticipate that this 12th May will be unlike those captured over the last 10 years and welcome contributions from people of all ages across the UK. Whether or not the UK is in lockdown, please consider keeping a diary. For more details visit our 12th May page.
Format of documents
We welcome physical and electronic responses to all the opportunities listed above. A list of formats that we can accept can be seen in our guidance notes. We ask that you retain any physical records until after the lockdown period.
Don't forget to include the following statement:
I donate my COVID-19 reflections to the Mass Observation Archive. I consent to it being made publicly available as part of the Archive and assign my copyright in this work to the Mass Observation Archive Trustees so that it can be reproduced in full or in part on websites, in publications and in broadcasts as approved by the Mass Observation Trustees. I agree to the Mass Observation Archive assuming the role of Data Controller and the Archive will be responsible for the collection and processing of personal data and ensuring that such data complies with the DPA.
More information about this statement can be found here.
I shall be setting this as work for my students.
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