Contact: Madison Welzbacher

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi State University Television Center is one of only three finalists in the country for the prestigious James Beard Media Award in the Documentary/Docuseries Visual Media category. The center’s “The Hungriest State” series secured the broadcast media award nomination, which is competing for the honor alongside two other national programs.

UTC also is the winner of a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and has been nominated for 14 Southeast Regional Emmys.

The James Beard Media Awards are presented by the James Beard Foundation to those who have demonstrated remarkable talent and a commitment to racial and gender equity on food and beverage topics in the media. A ceremony and reception will be held June 11 at the Columbia College Chicago Student Center in Chicago, Illinois, where the winners will be announced.

“The Hungriest State” examines food insecurity in Mississippi, highlighting different perceptions, causes, impacts and solutions to one of the critical issues facing the Magnolia State. Through several stories, the series shows the essential nature of food security at the individual and community levels and the passion of people working to address inequities that cause food insecurity.

“MSU’s University Television Center continues to be an integral part of the university’s storytelling apparatus,” said MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter. “I could not be prouder of their work. Through the MSU Films initiative, our MSU filmmakers are doing important work that puts a bright light on the university’s research and service. This recognition comes to them in direct competition with the private sector.”

The Regional Edward R. Murrow Award—announced May 20 by the Radio Television Digital News Association—is for “The Fisherfolk,” honored as a small market news documentary which automatically advances to the national level of competition. The documentary examines environmental and economic factors that threaten the seafood industry along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Southeast Regional Emmy Awards are a division within the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Winners will be announced June 18 at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Emmy-nominated films, their categories and UTC staff members include: “XIII” in Documentary-Historical; “The Fisherfolk” in Documentary-Topical; “The Domino Effect” in the Magazine Program–Single Program; “Simple Livin” in Magazine Program–Series; “Will Gilmer” in Public Affairs Program–Single Program; “On the Farm” in Public Affairs Program–Series; “Old Main” in Historical/Cultural–Short Form Content and also Program Promotion; James Parker for Director–Long Form Content, Editor–Short Form Content and Video Essay; Hal Teasler for Graphic Arts–Motion Graphics; and David Garraway for Audio–Post-Production and also Lighting–Location.

To learn more about MSU’s Television Center, visit utc.msstate.edu. To view “The Hungriest State” and other MSU-produced documentary features, visit www.films.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.