The New Media Writing Prize was established in 2010 by James Pope and Sue Luminati as part of the inaugural Poole Literary Festival.
Support has come from internal funding, and a wide range of external sources including if:book UK, a 'think and do tank' run by the late Chris Meade.
[3] The competition has built an international reach and reputation amongst makers and academics in the filed of digital storytelling.
A 2012 article in The Independent described the prize with a mix of sarcasm and appreciation, starting with the tagline "It's writing, Jim, but not as we know it.
[7] Several winning and shortlisted works were showcased in the 2023 British Library exhibition "Digital Storytelling".