Journalism
We invest in stronger local news and community information systems in Mississippi.
Since 2018, the Community Foundation for Mississippi has partnered with local and national funders to support journalism-related initiatives that strengthen civic information, expand community storytelling, and connect Mississippians with reliable local news and resources.
Our initiatives include:
CFM is part of the coalition of Mississippi foundations providing leadership and governance for Press Forward Mississippi, the state chapter of a nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. We help guide statewide initiatives and support efforts to strengthen civic information and local journalism across central and southwest Mississippi.
Press Forward Mississippi
Constructive Journalism in the South
As part of developing its journalism investment strategy, CFM partnered with Red Window Communications to explore Constructive Journalism, an approach developed in Denmark, and assess its relevance for Mississippi communities. The project included deep listening with community members and media leaders across the state, and culminated in a vibrant, public-facing online resource that made the findings accessible to a general audience. It was made possible through support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Microsoft.
Jackson Association of Neighborhoods
In partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, CFM provides support for communications at JAN, a nonprofit organization that connects neighborhood associations and local leaders across the city. Our investment has helped JAN expand access to civic information through neighborhood documentation, community calendars, and coverage of city meetings and local issues.
Mississippi Youth Media Project
CFM and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are major supporters of the Mississippi Youth Media Project, a Jackson-based program that trains primarily underserved teens in journalism, digital storytelling, multimedia production, and solutions-focused reporting. Through summer newsroom experiences and community-based projects, students learn to report on issues affecting their own communities while building practical media skills, confidence, and professional experience. The program helps young people tell comprehensive stories about Mississippi, positioning themselves as part of the state’s civic and media future.
Invest in local news
STRONG COMMUNITIES NEED QUALITY LOCAL TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED, CONNECTED, AND ENGAGED.
If you care about strengthening local news and civic information in Mississippi, CFM can help put your resources where they can make a meaningful difference. We are part of the conversations shaping this work statewide, with deep relationships in Jackson, central Mississippi, and southwest Mississippi. We can help connect your investment to the people and organizations building a stronger local news ecosystem.
Invest in Local News
Strong communities need quality local news to keep people informed, connected and engaged.
If you care about strengthening local news and civic information in Mississippi, CFM can help put your resources where they can make a meaningful difference. We are part of the conversations shaping this work statewide, with deep relationships in Jackson, central Mississippi and southwest Mississippi. We can help connect your investment to the people and organizations building a stronger local news ecosystem.