The MSU Press began operations in 1947 under the direction of Michigan State College's Special Assistant to the President in Charge of Public Relations, and over the years it has been administered by various offices. Since 1980, the Press has reported to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.

Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction is a literary biannual journal devoted to publishing works of contemporary nonfiction extending from the personal essay – including nature, environmental, and travel writing – to memoir, literary journalism, and personal cultural criticism. Since its debut in the Spring of 1999, the journal has been guided by the intent implied in the title: to give nonfiction its due as a literary genre by offering writers of the “fourth genre” a showcase for their work and providing readers a place to find lively and creative examples of the form. In addition to contemporary nonfiction, Fourth Genre features interviews with prominent nonfiction writers, roundtable discussions of topical genre issues, mini-essays by selected photographers and visual artists, letters from readers, and reviews and capsule summaries of current books.

Fourth Genre has received an unprecedented four Pushcart Prizes: Patricia Monaghan’s "Physics and Grief" (Vol. 5, No. 2) in 2004 Brenda Miller’s "How to Meditate" and Ladette Randolph’s "Fields of Mercy" (Vol. 3, No. 1) in 2003; Brett Lott’s "Toward Humility" (Vol. 1, No. 2) in 1999. In 2003, C. M. Mayo won first place in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition for "A Touch of Evil" (Vol. 4, No. 2) and Lad Tobin won “Notable Essay of the Year” in Best American Travel Writing for "You Virtually Can’t Get There from Here" (Vol. 4, No. 2).