Press Forward Mississippi, in partnership with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), will host the 2025 Mississippi Community Journalism Workshop on Oct. 30 at the university’s Hattiesburg campus. The workshop is free and open to anyone working to support local news in the state; registration is required.
The 2025 Mississippi Community Journalism Workshop will take place alongside the fall conference of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association. The two events will provide opportunities for working journalists to connect with high school reporters from across the state.
Press Forward Mississippi is a coalition of Mississippi foundations that recognizes the connection between strong communities and quality local news. It is part of a national network with chapters across the country, working to strengthen local news so communities stay informed, connected and engaged. The chapter’s vision is to see Mississippi communities enriched by fact-based journalism that bridges perspectives and empowers civic engagement.
Press Forward Mississippi is led by the executive officers of five Mississippi foundations, with the Tupelo-based CREATE Foundation serving as lead funder.
“As community-based funders, we know that if you want to raise quality of life, people need to know what’s going on and why, and how they can get involved,” said Mike Clayborne, CEO of the CREATE Foundation. “We need quality local news that serves this role in our communities.”
In announcing its first initiatives, Press Forward Mississippi will invest in two strategic projects designed for broad impact: a statewide collaborative reporting pilot project among 23 local outlets, and a training program to help 15 public high schools in Mississippi start new journalism programs. The coalition has committed $50,000 toward each initiative.
The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center is based in the Southern Miss School of Media and Communication. Dr. Ed Simpson, director of the school, said he can think of no more important issue for society right now than “the health of our community journalism.”
“The Press Forward event, in conjunction with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, is in the best tradition of Southern Miss’ active engagement with the industries and communities we exist to serve,” Simpson said. “The day will focus on what comes next for journalism, including the skills needed for today’s audiences and the research that helps us figure that out.”
For more information about the workshop, including registration, the agenda and session details, visit 2025 Community Journalism Workshop — Press Forward Mississippi.
