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As a recent Wall Street Journal report highlights that companies are "desperately seeking storytellers" to navigate a fractured media landscape, the California Student Media Festival (CSMF) announced a new scholarship program for 2026, sponsored by Book Creator from Kami, designed to recognize and support students who have mastered the art of digital narrative.

Beginning in 2026, CSMF and Book Creator from Kami will award two $1,000 scholarships to standout student creators in the Interactive Media and Film/Video categories. Winners will be selected using CSMF’s long-standing, rigorous evaluation rubric, which prioritizes clarity of story, creativity, and ethical media use alongside technical execution.

"The WSJ report confirms what we’ve known for years: storytelling is a core business capability, not a soft skill," said Mike Lawrence, volunteer executive director of the festival. "By partnering with Book Creator from Kami, we are providing a bridge from the classroom to a career. We aren’t just judging student projects; we are identifying the future narrative leaders of the industry."

Book Creator, part of the Kami family, is a platform that enables students to create interactive, multimedia books. “At Book Creator by Kami, we believe learning comes alive when students create. Through videos, audio, and interactive books, students demonstrate understanding, apply curriculum skills, and tell stories that matter," said Alyssa Wood of Book Creator from Kami. "Partnering with the California Student Media Festival lets us celebrate bold, creative storytellers and the next generation of narrative leaders while showing what our technology can offer.”
 

The California Student Media Festival is now entering its 60th year. Educators and students are encouraged to review the established rubric at mediafestival.org/rubric. The award ceremony will be held at the Mark Taper Auditorium in downtown LA’s Central Library on May 23, 2026.

About the California Student Media Festival: Founded in 1967, CSMF is the oldest student media festival in the United States, fostering student agency and media literacy for 60 years. An all-volunteer non-profit, the festival is free for TK-12 students to enter and free for all to attend.

Book Creator, part of the Kami family of learning tools, enables learners of all ages to publish interactive, multimedia narratives that demonstrate understanding, creativity, and impact, aligning seamlessly with curriculum goals across subjects. Trusted by over 70 million educators globally, it gives students a way to express what they know, how they think, and why their ideas matter using the same immersive formats now shaping brand experiences, case studies, and digital communication in the professional world.

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Media Contact: 
Mike Lawrence | Executive Director
California Student Media Festival 
info@mediafestival.org | mediafestival.org