New Media Aimed to Aid Oxford Tourism

May 30, 2008

OXFORD, Miss. - If a local media organization has its way, the city of Oxford, Mississippi will soon have high-tech, self-guided walking audio tours designed to contribute to tourism and allow visitors to experience Oxford in all its storied history.

New digital self-guided tours are being created by Colonel Rall Media, a local Oxford organization that helps promote traditional southern values and resources through innovative media solutions.

The project comes in advance of the first Presidential debate, hosted in Oxford this September 26th by the University of Mississippi. The debates will be broadcast nationally and are expected to draw more than 3,000 journalists and over 25,000 visitors from all over the country.

"It's just an excellent opportunity for us to tell the story of Oxford to everyone," said Keith Sisson, the project leader. “These are not your run-of-the-mill audio tours. They’re designed to be fun and informative and entertaining.” Oxford is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Three tours are planned: the square, beyond the square, and St. Peter's Cemetery. Set to music and narrated by local media personalities, they will point out architectural features, introduce prominent citizens from Oxford's past, and explain why the city has earned its place as a National Historic Landmark.

The self-guided walking audio tours are being produced in digital format, and will be available for download to one’s iPod if so desired, or it can be distributed conventionally.

Colonel Rall Media has enlisted the award-winning talents of nationally known humorist and radio personality Larry Wamble, author Stephen Enzweiler, and the project boasts original music written and performed by the Woolper Mountain Boys.

The new digital walking audio tours are expected to become a part of the city's heritage tourism program, sponsored by the Oxford Convention and Visitors Bureau. The tours are expected to be made available in the first part of September.