Around 350 high school students from across several states competed in the Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting’s 4-State scholastic video competition Nov. 3-5, 2023, on the Missouri State University campus.
ASB 4-State has hosted the video competition for high school students since 2017, according to Brandon Goodwin, Director of Resources at ASB.
The competition features 24 different journalism and creative media contests that are held over a three-day period.
Students in the 2023 competition came from states including Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and California, according to interim CMJF department head Dr. Deborah Larson.
Several local area high schools competed, including Central, Hillcrest and Nixa, as well as four high schools from the Lee’s Summit, Missouri, area.
“Some schools had as many as 60 kids competing in multiple categories,” Larson said.
MSU hosts for first time, provides creative spaces for competitors
This was the first time MSU hosted the event, which was coordinated by ASB, MSU’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film, and Locke and Stache video production company.
Larson opened the competition and served as liaison between Goodwin, Locke and Stache, and other Reynolds College academic unit leaders to provide campus spaces where students could work on their projects.
During the competition, students were encouraged to use these campus spaces to create, shoot and present their stories, according to Larson.
Some of the spaces included the CMJF television studio and green screen, the crime lab in Strong Hall, the Brick City galleries and interior spaces, the English department’s library in Siceluff Hall and the dance studio in the Theatre and Dance Annex, Larson said.
A fun, competitive atmosphere
Larson described the competition’s atmosphere as “fun, active, competitive and motivated.”
“The students love it!” Larson said. “And they are so creative. I sat through a couple of hours of the screenings and was so impressed with the amount of storytelling talent I saw come through the reporting and film pieces.”
“The students all did terrific work and were highly competitive,” Larson said.
Hosts again in 2024
Goodwin, who graduated from MSU’s CMJF program, has selected Missouri State to host the 2024 competition.
“This year’s competition was my favorite so far,” said Goodwin. “Missouri State is an ideal location. The facilities were great and there was so much activity on campus that made for great content for our competitions.”
Hosting the ASB 4-State competition required a lot of time and energy. But Larson sees great potential emerging from all the effort.
“This is the first time I have been involved with the competition, so we are just getting a handle on what CMJF can do to enhance our participation next year,” Larson said.
“I hope next year and beyond, we as a department can be more involved with judging, screening a contest or two in some way, or including a CMJF sponsored category,” Larson added.
Making connections
Even more important to Larson are the connections the students will make with MSU.
Larson heard students express interest in several different academic majors, including disciplines within the Reynolds College as well as STEM majors, education and health sciences.
“We want all these talented students — who may or may not be journalism, communication, PR or film majors — to come here and feel comfortable on campus,” Larson explained. “If they spend a weekend exploring and talking to people, hanging out in the PSU and having a great time, they are all potential MSU students, no matter their major.”
“That is just a win-win for the whole university, and it is worth the time and effort to give them a great space, show them a good time and provide great campus activities that make their competition fun,” Larson said.
Building a storytelling community
“So many excellent storytellers and media craftspeople have come through the CMJF program,” Goodwin said. “I think the biggest impact MSU has had on the local film and production scene is its ability to connect alumni who are interested in working together.”
“You can learn storytelling anywhere,” Goodwin added. “CMJF does a great job creating opportunities for building connections in the local film and production community.”
“Competitions like this are what got me excited to create video projects when I was in high school, so it’s fun to host and see that light turn on in other students,” Goodwin said.
“It’s a great chance for media teachers to create a learning opportunity for their students. That’s why we do it.”
Learn more about opportunities in CMJF
Photos provided by Brandon Goodwin unless otherwise noted.