The Narrative Trust network includes interviewers, researchers, videographers, transcribers, and film and sound editors. Together, we bring decades of experience in our fields. Our principals are Jessica Wiederhorn, Melanie Shorin, and Rose Newnham.
Co-Founder and Interviewer
Jessica Wiederhorn is the former Associate Director of the Oral History Research Office at Columbia University. Among the projects she supervised were the oral histories of Columbia Law School Alumunae, the Institute of Psychoanalytic Research and Training, as well as the September 11th Oral History Narrative and Memory Project, comprised of more than 600 interviews... [+]
Jessica Wiederhorn is the former Associate Director of the Oral History Research Office at Columbia University. Among the projects she supervised was the oral histories of Columbia Law School Alumunae, the Institute of Psychoanalytic Research and Training, as well as the September 11th Oral History Narrative and Memory Project, comprised of more than 600 interviews. During her tenure she ran the Office's world-renowned Summer Institute.
Previously, Ms. Wiederhorn was Manager of Academic Affairs at the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg to interview survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust. There, she conducted interviews and reviewed hundreds of Holocaust testimonies, providing guidance and coaching to interviewers worldwide.
Ms. Wiederhorn earned her MA in cultural anthropology from Columbia University, and has taught at Cal State LA and Northridge, as well as Santa Monica College. She has conducted interviewer-training workshops at numerous universities and historical institutions. Ms. Wiederhorn speaks widely on oral history method and theory, and has presented academic papers throughout North America and Europe. She has co-chaired the Oral History Association's annual meeting, chaired its Nominating Committee, and currently chairs the International Committee.
Co-Founder and Interviewer
Melanie Shorin began her career as a journalist and radio show host. Her interviews appeared in New York magazine, McCall's, People, and The New York Times, among others. She later founded Atrium Productions to produce films for corporations, museums, and libraries. Atrium clients included BMW, Pepsi, and AT&T, where she conducted a series of interviews and produced an award-winning documentary chronicling the history of the telephone operator... [+]
Melanie Shorin began her career as a journalist and radio show host. Her interviews appeared in New York magazine, McCall's, People, and The New York Times, among others. She later founded Atrium Productions to produce films for corporations, museums, and libraries. Atrium clients included BMW, Pepsi, and AT&T, where she conducted a series of interviews and produced an award-winning documentary chronicling the history of the telephone operator. She was a lead interviewer for The New York Public Library's Centennial Celebration, and later produced Centennial Weekend, commemorating the five boroughs' merge into New York City.
In 2001 she interviewed survivors and witnesses of 9/11 for Columbia University's September 11th Oral History Narrative and Memory Project and subsequently served on the advisory committee for a guidebook to teach the principles of interviewing trauma survivors. Ms. Shorin has served in an advisory role creating patrons programs for many New York arts organizations including Ballet Hispanico, the Whitney Museum, and Children's Museum of Manhattan. She currently sits on the board of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Project Manager
A professional writer, researcher and editor, Rose Newnham joined the Narrative Trust in September 2007. From 1998 to 2003, she worked at the Shoah Foundation, first as an interview cataloguer, then as Publications Manager. In 2004, Ms. Newnham began working at Columbia University's Oral History Research Office, where she served as Assistant Director from 2005 to 2007... [+]
A professional writer, researcher and editor, Rose Newnham joined the Narrative Trust in September 2007. From 1998 to 2003, she worked at the Shoah Foundation, first as an interview cataloguer, then as Publications Manager. In 2004, Ms. Newnham began working at Columbia University's Oral History Research Office, where she served as Assistant Director from 2005 to 2007. Under her guidance, the office processed and archived more than 350 interviews from its September 11th Oral History Projects.
Ms. Newnham has presented papers at oral history meetings in the US and Canada. IN 2008, she completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in Nonfiction Writing at Columbia. She teaches writing workshops as part of Columbia's Narrative Medicine Program.