Jackson Reporter

Overview

Mississippi Today, a growing nonprofit newsroom based in Jackson, is looking for a driven, critical thinker to join a vibrant team of journalists who are passionate about unpacking complex stories in our state’s capital city.

Led by Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Anna Wolfe, the Jackson team launched in early 2025. In a very short time, we have:

• produced nuanced stories about a charged municipal election season
• followed an ongoing saga over apartment complex water shutoffs due to unpaid bills
• written captivating vignettes on small-town politics
• uncovered a little-known government loophole that allows blight to flourish
• tackled topics from economic development to crime to city budgeting

In a media environment saturated by oversimplified narratives, we seek to tell complicated, inherently human stories about our community and make hard-sought information accessible in a way that encourages our neighbors to be more engaged, more compassionate and more empowered to take part in solutions.

At Mississippi Today, you’ll find a newsroom culture that encourages reporters to follow their gut and pursue the reporting threads they’re most passionate about – what we believe results in the most impactful storytelling. The newsroom’s nationally recognized leaders commit to aiding in story conception, creative and novel reporting strategies and craft.

In addition to a supportive work environment, Mississippi Today’s unionized newsroom offers competitive pay and benefits, a professional development opportunity of your choice annually and generous PTO.

Anna is conducting office hours for anyone interested in learning more about the role. Just .

We re not looking for a unicorn. So if you don t match all the qualifications, we still encourage you to apply.

We are purposefully casting a wide net, hoping to connect with journalists of different backgrounds who may be uniquely qualified to help us grow this team. If you’re a reporter with any of the following experience or attributes, this team may be for you:

• Enterprise reporting focused on uncovering systemic issues within government and policy. The bigger the impact of your reporting on government leaders or systems, the better.
• Political reporting covering not only high-profile candidates for offices, but experience delving into issues and ideas that affect a community, such as privatization of public services, the degradation of local democracy, distrust in institutions and the causes of systemic poverty, highlighting those who profit from it.
• Cultural reporting that highlights the often-overlooked success stories of citizens who are making a positive impact on their communities.
• Strong understanding of Jackson (or similar large urban centers) and the unique challenges facing the city and its residents.
• Commitment to the mission of balanced, impactful journalism that centers and respects the voice of the community.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work within a team-oriented newsroom.

The starting salary for this position is $60,000. Compensation is commensurate with experience level.

• Work with a team of journalists who are focused on social inequities and racial equality in our area.
• Willingness to collaborate closely with a team of like-minded journalists and execute deeply-reported stories.
• Apply critical thinking when attending news events, have an affinity for specificity and maintain an eye towards compelling narrative leads.
• Get people to talk, find willing sources and protect them while telling sensitive and timely stories.
• Build trust:
  Many people who have been impacted by inequities in Mississippi have been victims of predatory practices and forces. This will require empathy, patience and savvy.
• Work with our Audience Team and data and visual journalists to create compelling story presentations.

Qualified candidates should have:

• Experience working as a reporter in a newsroom.
• Ability to work quickly, with accuracy and good news judgment.
• Ability to independently develop and cultivate sources and a desire to make regular cold calls and conduct in-depth interviews.
• Ability to gather…