Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University’s Story State, a competitive Department of Communication event that hosts storytellers from across the state, has been recognized by the National Broadcasting Society–Alpha Epsilon Rho, a national electronic media association.

“Story State 2022: Fostering Innovative Storytelling” won first place in the academic/professional production category at the organization’s spring event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program hosts universities across the country competing in broadcast and web-related production. For the combined efforts in revamping MSU’s previous storytelling contest, the New Narrative Festival, into Story State, the NBS-AERho said the program “created meaningful storytelling presentations, viewed online by thousands, and available as an archive.”

Story State seeks new and original written, oral or filmed stories from Mississippi’s emerging creators to honor the state’s artistic heritage and demonstrate how they are transforming the art of storytelling.

“We have an abundance of talented storytellers working in Mississippi who have a lot to share,” said Josh Foreman, Story State coordinator and communication department instructor. “I hope Story State will serve as one more chance for Mississippi storytellers to get recognition and support, and share their knowledge and stories with an audience. I think Story State makes a meaningful contribution to Mississippi's artistic landscape.”

Each year, Story State crowns an overall master storyteller, as well as winners in various categories. It also includes approximately 10 interviews with professional Mississippi storytellers. Undergraduate students from any public or private university or college can participate.

The Mississippi Humanities Council provided monetary support for the production of Story State 2022. Visit www.storystate.msstate.edu for more information about the competition.

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Communication, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.comm.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

PHOTO ID:  Josh Foreman (Photo by Beth Wynn)