302 Stories was founded by Michael Oates who has been producing video programs since 1977. The first company he founded, New York Television, Inc. (NYTV), won numerous national and regional awards for their corporate, broadcast, and non-profit work.

In 1995, Mike sold his share of his company and "retired" to Fortescue, a rural fishing community in New Jersey on Delaware Bay. He chose to devote himself full time to telling stories more in line with his interests and values. Since then, he has produced many short and long form programs, with many focused on the Bayshore environment — its people, places, and issues important to the region.

In 1999, he produced the Emmy-nominated "Dollars on the Beach," the first documentary to explore the horseshoe crab / shorebird connection and the associated natural resource management controversy. That documentary served as the foundation for the development of the media materials integral to the "Green Eggs and Sand" educational curriculum, which is now taught in 19 states and has been awarded numerous national and regional education awards.

While documenting the Delaware Bay region, Mike was introduced to Delaware and became fascinated with its unique history and culture. It’s small size and population meant greater accessibility to its people and places, and so in 2000, Mike permanently relocated to Delaware.

 

In 2001, he founded 302 Stories, Inc., a digital storytelling company committed to "telling the stories of the people and places of Delaware and surrounding area."