Monday, October 6, 2008
Thor Nystrom was sitting in a movie theater with a few of his friends when his phone vibrated. His mom was calling. Not wanting to distract others, he ignored it. Seconds later, he received a text message from his mom asking him to call her right away. His first thought was that a family member had died.
It turned out to be better news for the spring 2008 graduate. Nystrom had won first place in the feature-writing category for Rolling Stone magazine’s 33rd annual College Journalism Competition. He is featured in the October issue of Rolling Stone, which hits shelves nationwide Friday.
ROLLING STONE
Thor Nystrom's article, "To Hell and Back," chronicling his bouts with mental illness, won Rolling Stone's annual feature-writing contest and is featured in the magazine's October issue.
Nystrom’s story, “To Hell and Back,” chronicled his emotional struggle with, and eventual overcoming of, mental health issues. Kevin O’Donnell, assistant editor for Rolling Stone, said Nystom’s piece edged out about 150 other stories from students across the country.
Nystrom said he remembered sitting in his Depth Reporting class last spring and being the only student without an idea for the class’s major project. His inspiration finally came after stumbling across a story of a girl’s personal struggle with an eating disorder. He said he started thinking about his own story and thought it would translate well to a broad audience.
“I had never really spoken about it with anyone,” Nystrom said, “not family, friends or anyone. I just kind of let all those emotions fester. I had to get it out eventually. I had to write it for myself.”
In writing the story, Nystrom said, he was able to purge the emotions he had held on to for more than a year. For his own sake, he made a deal with himself to tell the story 100 percent truthfully. Telling the story became more a personal necessity and less a class project. He said if he had considered the fact that friends, family and complete strangers would be reading the story, he probably wouldn’t have been able to be as honest.
“It was too important and too personal at that point in my life,” Nystrom said. “I was going to go 100 percent, or I wasn’t going to write it. I would have taken an F in the class. That’s how important it was.”
One moment while writing the story will stick with Nystrom forever. After recounting his experiences and writing the last two paragraphs, he broke down. Emotionally shattered, he couldn’t help but cry. He said that, in retrospect, being able to conjure up those emotions led him to believe he was doing something right. At that point, Nystrom said, he had no conception that other people would be reading his story.
Nystrom's award-winning story was originally published in the May 5, 2008, edition of The University Daily Kansan. Nystrom describes writing the story as an emotional experience.
Other people did.
After the story was printed in the May 5, 2008 edition of The University Daily Kansan, Nystrom received more than 100 e-mails from readers, most of whom he didn’t know. Expecting criticism, he was overwhelmed by the response.
“Oh my God it was amazing,” Nystrom said. “I didn’t get one negative comment. It was validation that I had written it the way I needed to.”
Ted Frederickson was the journalism professor who taught the Depth Reporting class for which Nystrom’s story was his major project. He praised it as “a goosebump-inducing narrative that followed Thor from the dark depths of despair to a personal triumph that left me with tears in my eyes. I have never found it easier to read such a long piece in a newspaper.”
The Rolling Stone editors who judged Nystrom’s piece agreed, awarding him the $2,500 prize for his winning story.
Eric Bates, executive editor for Rolling Stone and director of the College Journalism Competition, said the story accomplished something many feature stories do not.
“The piece pulled off one of the most difficult feats in feature writing — telling a compelling and heartrending story in the first person, one with broader relevance to all readers, without succumbing to pathos or sensationalism,” Bates said.
Nystrom’s name and picture appear on Page 8 of the edition of Rolling Stone.
— — Edited by Adam Mowder
The University wins Hearst competition
The award recognizes writers and gives $10,000 to the school.
School of Journalism receives Hearst Awards
Students received a combined $5,000 in awards.
Students win sports writing Hearst awards
Two KU journalism students have placed in the prestigious Hearst writing competition.
Journalism students sweep national competition
Matt Erickson and Megan Hirt took the top two spots in the ...
To hell and back
A fight outside Naismith Hall began Thor Nystrom's year-long journey into the ...
Nystrom: Judging a coach by his cover
Mark Mangino has done wonders for KU’s football team, but offers from ...
The road to becoming a true Jayhawk
Nystrom creates his own (hypothetical) Senior Night speech in which he reflects ...
Staff, faculty receive tickets on cards
Students aren’t the only KU basketball fans who have their tickets on ...
Students honored for work on campus media
KJHK, KUJH and the University Daily Kansan receive regional awards.
School of Journalism wins writing award
Two reporters will travel to the National Writing Championship in San Francisco ...
Overworked students' dangerous race against time
Is too much work and too little time putting students' health at ...
Two students place top 10 in Hearst
Writing competition awards journalism students for personality/profile writing.
Pilobolus dancer flips with hometown pride
KU alum returns with the non-traditional dance theatre to perform tonight at ...
This remarkable American life
Ira Glass discusses the importance of lighthearted media and the art of ...
CITIZEN DOLPH: A rare look at the ...
You may not recognize his name, but Dolph Simons Jr., chairman of ...
A change of tune
I wouldn’t let one teacher silence my singing voice
Graduate student wins music award
Professor to compose for Berlin Philharmonic
James Barnes was commissioned to write a piece for the Berlin Philharmonic ...
Game day goes smoothly despite construction
The Athletics Department said navigating construction was not a problem for most ...
Journal wants undergraduate research
Editors of the Journal of Undergraduate Research are looking for content for ...
Stewart: Conversation with White Owl provokes thought
Wescoe Beach mainstay offers advice to everyone
Dance company returns member to his roots
Jun Kuribayashi, a Lawrence native and member of the dance company Pilobolus, ...
Student takes lead at local studio
A KU sophomore choreographed his first show, which will be performed tonight.
Jayhawk plays center in new movie
Marcus Owen, former Kansas offensive lineman, plays in front of Dwayne “The ...
Adventure and exploration at the Lied Center
The program “First Person: Stories From the Edge of the World” features ...
Debate over marijuana tries to clear the ...
Four hundred and forty people attend SUA’s debate between the editor-in-chief of ...
Founding father of Rolling Stone reflects on ...
Baron Wolman discusses how his time as a Rolling Stone photojournalist profoundly ...
String quartet's piece revives classics
Group will play pieces in response to Beethoven and Mendelssohn’s works.
Larger than life
Tyler Cook, Oberlin senior, follows his boyhood dream of becoming a pro ...
Matney: Finding what's really important — family ...
Texts from the City on overcoming the stress of classwork to focus ...
Hearst journalism awards given to Kansan staffers
Jayson Jenks, Stephen Montemayor and Brenna Daldorph were all given awards through ...
Alumni group bashes new font
This summer the KU Athletics Department decided to adopt the official KU ...
Adderall addiction?
Students who abuse the stimulant love the high but hate the fall
Professor receives award for book on blues ...
Musicology professor was awarded for her publication on the research of blues ...
Media hype creates lofty expectations
The Jayhawks are expected to win the Big 12 and keep playing ...
Mort Rosenblum says journalists are necessary for ...
Rosenblum, a long-time journalist and correspondent, spoke with students Monday about his ...
Oklahoma State coach’s rant targets KU graduate
Carlson, a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalist and ...
Put Up Your Dukes
Your hands are talking about you and you probably don’t even know ...
Iron Composer competition rewrites Rock Chalk Chant
The Hilanthus Contemporary Ensemble performed eight new versions of the Rock Chalk ...
Contest could bring free DMB concert to ...
AT&T will choose a winner based on the number of votes submitted ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Former journalism student wins national writing competition
Congrats Thor.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID