We do a lot of things at Mississippi Today. First and foremost, we answer to you, our readers, by bringing you news and information that is meaningful, authentic and trustworthy. We hold space between everyday Mississippians and those in power, and use our position as journalists to dig deep in data, ask tough questions and report without fear or favor.

Our commitment to truthtelling and accountability has been a beacon for the state over the past eight years. In 2024, we’ve put countless hours and resources into standing up for press freedom while continuing our mission of building a more informed Mississippi. We believe in the power of good reporting and the accountability it inspires. Our impact over the past year proves that quality local journalism is a civic good: one worth supporting, one worth championing and one worth fighting for, and we know you agree.

Thanks to you, we’ve been able to grow our reach and expand our coverage of critical policy issues facing our state. During the four-month-long 2024 legislative session, we never had fewer than three people in the Capitol, and on some days had as many as a dozen reporters on site. Our years-long dedication to covering all sides of Medicaid expansion helped lead to the first earnest legislative debate during this year’s session, and we will relentlessly continue that coverage in January 2025.

This is just one example of the tangible impact of our reporting. Others include: 

• Mississippi Today’s “Unfettered Power: Mississippi Sheriffs” series was named a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. The series, reported in partnership with The New York Times’ Local Investigations Fellowship, also picked up a finalist nod for the coveted Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. In the wake of our investigation, Mississippi lawmakers have passed a bill that increases oversight of law enforcement officers and gives state authorities more power to punish misconduct. The law gives the state agency that certifies law enforcement officers the ability to investigate claims of police misconduct.
  
• In collaboration with ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, our investigation, “Committed to Jail,” resulted in legislation that would prevent those facing civil commitment from being jailed as they await admission into a mental health facility.  Thanks to our reporting, the Department of Mental Health has begun enforcing a law that it didn’t mention for a decade, requiring jails that hold people to meet health and safety standards.
  
• In March 2024, a few hours after Mississippi Today published a piece on Katie Studdard’s battle for inheritance rights of her child born through IVF, a senator reached out to Studdard and invited her to testify before his Judiciary A committee, where the bill was assigned. House Bill 1542 passed the legislature during the 2024 session after five years of dying in committee. 
  
• Our community health reporter published a story revealing that despite the fact that pregnancy presumptive eligibility went into effect July 1, 2024, there was still no way for pregnant women to participate in the program. One day after the story was published, the director of the state Medicaid office began emailing providers with the information and application. 
  
• Mississippi Today’s “Trey Way” investigation, a four-part series revealing millions in state dollars flowed to improve the north Mississippi neighborhood where a top lawmaker lives, was published after months of reporting by the Mississippi Today government and politics team. In response to the reporting, Mississippi’s top two legislative leaders committed to considering reforms to the state’s appropriations process.
  
• Mississippi Today’s Civics Field Guide was produced as part of our partnership with Democracy Day, a national campaign by journalists nationwide to lift up the role of journalism in democracy. The guide was published both online and as a printed piece. We distributed the guide at voter information events in partnership with the League of Women Voters, and with the Mississippi Scholastic Press, a statewide high school journalism program. 
  
• Mississippi Today was honored by the National Press Club with the 2024 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award, the highest honor bestowed by the venerated organization. The 2023 recipient was formerly imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Beyond the high impact reporting, all of the many things we do at Mississippi Today are with you in mind. From our listening sessions across the state in local libraries and at farmers markets to our podcasts, texting line and community events, we want to meet you where you are and in the way that makes the most sense for your information needs. We have several exciting projects launching in 2025 (hint: new coverage areas and sections of the website) and look forward to continuing to serve you as your go-to source for great writing and reporting in Mississippi.