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Mississippi Today

Aug 11, 2026

Jackson, Mississippi · Founded May 2016 · Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, 2023

Overview

Mississippi Today is a nonprofit, nonpartisan digital newsroom headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, covering politics, government, education, public health, justice, environment, and culture across the state. Founded in May 2016 as a statehouse watchdog by Jim and Donna Barksdale — the Barksdales built their fortune through Jim's tenure as president of Netscape and as an early investor in Amazon — alongside former NBC chairman Andrew Lack, it has grown into the largest newsroom in Mississippi with approximately 30 journalists. It operates under Deep South Today, the parent nonprofit that also encompasses Verite News (New Orleans) and The Current (Lafayette, Louisiana), and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) with EIN 47-2158741. In 2023, reporter Anna Wolfe won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for her investigation "The Backchannel," which exposed the largest embezzlement of federal funds in Mississippi history — a $77 million welfare scandal implicating former Governor Phil Bryant and NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre.

Scale

~30

Journalists on staff

35,000+

Daily newsletter subscribers

4.5M

Total site views in 2024

Mississippi outlets republishing MT content

1,910

Paying members

The Pulitzer: "The Backchannel" (2023)

Anna Wolfe's 2022 investigation, published in a multi-part series, revealed how former Governor Phil Bryant used his office to steer $77 million in federal welfare funds — money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, intended for Mississippi's poorest residents — to benefit politically connected friends and family. Among those who received diverted funds was Brett Favre, who received payments connected to a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi (his alma mater) and other projects. The investigation directly prompted expanded federal investigations and led to charges against multiple individuals. Wolfe was awarded the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting; the series was also recognized with a Livingston Award. Adam Ganucheau, then editor-in-chief, was lead editor of the investigation. In 2026 Wolfe joined the newly formed Deep South Today Investigative Reporting Center, where she continues covering Mississippi for both Mississippi Today and The New York Times.

Deep South Today and the NYT Investigative Center

Mississippi Today is the flagship outlet of Deep South Today, a nonprofit regional news network. Deep South Today also operates Verite News (launched 2022, New Orleans, covering inequities facing communities of color) and The Current (founded 2018, Lafayette and southern Louisiana, joined the network in 2025). In January 2026, Deep South Today launched an Investigative Reporting Center in collaboration with The New York Times Local Investigations Fellowship — led by former Times executive editor Dean Baquet — and Big Local News. The center employs reporters in Louisiana and Mississippi; their work is published in the Deep South Today member outlets and in The Times. A prior collaboration among Mississippi Today, the Times, and Big Local News on corruption and abuse by Mississippi sheriffs was a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting and produced federal investigations and state legislative reforms.

Leadership

Emily Wagster Pettus was appointed editor-in-chief on September 29, 2025, succeeding Adam Ganucheau, who had held the role since April 2020 and transitioned to executive editor and chief content officer for Deep South Today. Pettus has covered Mississippi politics and government since 1989 — including 24 years at the Associated Press — and had been senior editor at Mississippi Today from May 2025. Ganucheau was among the first employees hired at Mississippi Today before its 2016 launch. CEO Mary Margaret White, a lifelong Mississippian and Columbia University Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program graduate, has overseen the newsroom's growth including through the Pulitzer period.

Recognition (Selected)

2023

Pulitzer Prize — Local Reporting

Anna Wolfe, "The Backchannel" — investigation into Mississippi's $77 million TANF welfare scandal implicating former Governor Phil Bryant and Brett Favre.

2025

Pulitzer Prize — Local Reporting (collaboration)

The Local Investigations Fellowship (Deep South Today, Baltimore Banner, Big Local News) won for investigation into the deadly opioid crisis.

2024

Pulitzer Prize finalist — Local Reporting

For Mississippi Today / New York Times / Big Local News investigation into corruption and abuse by Mississippi sheriffs; led to expanded federal investigations and legislative reforms.

Multiple years

Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting (two awards) · Sidney Award · Collier Prize for State Government Accountability · John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Award · SPJ Green Eyeshade Awards (dozens) · Mississippi Press Association Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Reporting

22 national, regional, and statewide awards in 2025 alone.

Funding and Transparency

Mississippi Today is sustained through foundation grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event sponsorships, and advertising. It publicly discloses all donors and sponsors contributing $1,000 or more annually. Editorial decisions are stated to be independent of financial supporters; the organization's ethics and transparency policy notes that it declines donations that could compromise integrity or present a conflict of interest. Its full funding list is published at mississippitoday.org/about/who-funds-us/. Major institutional supporters have included the Knight Foundation, the American Journalism Project, and the Institute for Nonprofit News, among others.

Mississippi Today · mississippitoday.org
Jackson, Mississippi · operated under Deep South Today (501(c)(3) EIN 47-2158741)

Editor-in-Chief: Emily Wagster Pettus (since September 29, 2025) · CEO: Mary Margaret White

Parent network: Deep South Today (Mississippi Today · Verite News · The Current)

Investigative center: Deep South Today Investigative Reporting Center (with New York Times Local Investigations Fellowship and Big Local News, launched January 2026)

Donate / newsletter: donate.mississippitoday.org ·

mississippitoday.org/newsletters/