Who we are

Mississippi Today is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) news and media company with a forward-facing mission of civic engagement and public dialogue through service journalism, live events and digital outreach.

Founded in 2016 as a statehouse watchdog, Mississippi Today’s roots in Capitol coverage have grown to encompass a myriad of beats beyond politics and policy, including education, public health, justice, environment, equity, and, yes, sports. The brainchild of Andrew R. Lack, former chairman of NBC News Universal, and Donna and Jim Barksdale, Netscape CEO and philanthropist, Mississippi Today has grown to be the largest newsroom in Mississippi, proving that free, nonpartisan news is the antidote to apathy and an essential key to government accountability.

Led by the state’s top journalists, marketers and business minds, Mississippi Today is recognized nationally by the likes of the Institute for Nonprofit News, American Journalism Project, Knight Media Fund and the Online News Association as a leader in public service journalism and newsroom innovation.

Events

Each year, we aim to host live events throughout the state, showcasing the talent of our team and engaging in conversation with the state’s brightest minds, big thinkers and local leaders. Our programming ranges from in-person public newsroom events that shape and inform our reporting, to large-scale journalism summits that explore timely topics with depth and nuance.

Who funds us?

Mississippi News and Information Corporation, operating as Mississippi Today, was incorporated in Mississippi as a nonprofit organization on Oct. 3, 2014, and was granted its exemption from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on March 6, 2015.

MississippiToday.org is supported by grants from foundations, by contributions from donors and sponsors and by advertising. All donations are tax deductible.  A complete list of the Mississippi Today donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Our Audience

Mississippi Today centers reader experience at the heart of everything we do. Our audience is essential to the stories we report, and we aim to reach them in ways that make accessing the news a regular way of life. We do this through our dynamic website, text messaging, web alerts, podcasts, video content, social media and mobile app.

Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities

Newsletters

a daily dose of Mississippi news delivered every weekday morning

a weekly recap of the best of Mississippi news every Saturday morning

weekly curated content from Editor-at-Large Marshall Ramsey on Sundays

a monthly rundown of our education coverage

a monthly women and girls’ newsletter

specially curated content for members only

a monthly rundown of our health coverage

a monthly sports newsletter from award-winning sports columnist Rick Cleveland

Podcasts and Videos

Host Adam Ganucheau and the Mississippi Today political team bring you intimate access to the most connected players and observers in Mississippi politics. New episode each Monday.

includes Mississippi-centric sports talk and stories podcast with MT’s 13-time Mississippi Sports Writer of the Year Rick Cleveland and Scorebook Live senior reporter Tyler Cleveland. New episode each Wednesday.

Mississippi Stories is a weekly video series of discussions with some of Mississippi’s most interesting people, hosted by Editor-at-Large and Editorial Cartoonist Marshall Ramsey. New episode each Sunday.

Digital Display

Advertise on mississippitoday.org and our mobile app. Our website averages over 500,000 page views monthly. Please start a conversation with us to discuss custom solutions. Mississippi Today’s social platforms are primarily used to engage readers with news coverage from our website. Occasionally, our social platform may be deployed for paid branding engagements. These social posts are also clearly marked as paid to maintain a clear distinction between news content and branded content.

Partner Stories allow sponsors to reach Mississippi Today’s audience through brand messaging in the form of written articles. Article will feature sponsor bio and byline. The story will be promoted on the homepage of mississippitoday.org. Mississippi Today is the largest member-supported, digital-first, nonpartisan media organization that informs Mississippians — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government, education and statewide issues.


Deep South Today Advertising and Promotional Terms and Conditions

All advertising and promotional orders accepted by Deep South Today dba Mississippi Today and/or Verite News (hereafter “Deep South Today” or “Publisher”) are accepted subject to the terms and conditions set forth below (hereafter the “Agreement”). If there is any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any insertion order or other documents provided by the advertiser or its agent, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern. For the avoidance of doubt, submission of any advertising or promotional orders constitutes an acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No preprinted or referenced terms or conditions in any insertion order, reservation orders, blanket contracts, instructions, or documents other than this Agreement will be binding on Deep South Today.

The parties agree as follows:

Use of the Deep South Today Trademarks and the names of Deep South Today Publications
The advertiser and its agency jointly and severally represent and warrant that they will not use the name(s) of any Deep South Today publication or of Deep South Today in any manner, including, without limitation, in promotional or informational material for the advertised product or service without the express written consent of Deep South Today in each instance.

Submission of Advertising Materials and Deep South Today Approvals
Deep South Today’s approval of the advertiser’s advertising and promotional materials will not imply a representation or belief that such materials comply with applicable law and will not have any effect on the advertiser’s representations and warranties or indemnification obligations hereunder.

Deep South Today reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement, promotion, or sponsorship in its sole discretion.
Deep South Today reserves the right to adjust the website, layout, and content of any Deep South Today publication for any reason at any time.

Deep South Today may decline to accept advertising or promotion that it knows or believes to be misleading, inaccurate, fraudulent, or illegal, or that fails to comply, in Deep South Today’s sole discretion, with its standards of decency, taste or dignity.

Deep South Today may reject any advertising or promotion that blurs the distinction between news and advertising or promotional content in a manner that, in Deep South Today’s judgment, could confuse readers. To clearly distinguish advertisements and promotions from content, all advertisements and promotions with white backgrounds must include a border of contrasting color. Additionally, all paid brand messaging is clearly labeled as sponsored content and is placed within a sponsored content box, to ensure clarity and separation from editorial content.

Please allow a minimum of 7 days for launch of any advertising or promotional materials. The advertiser and or agency must submit all such materials at least 7 business days prior to launch date to allow for proper scheduling and review. Holidays may require an extended period between submission and launch dates. The advertiser and/or agency must furnish all necessary copy, artwork, and components essential for advertising and promotion production by the applicable submission deadline.
Deep South Today reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertising or promotion, temporarily alter insertion days, decrease ad size, or suspend advertising or promotional publications, at any time and for any reason, including without limitation to limit the advertising or promotional pages in any edition, without liability, even though the advertisement or promotion was previously acknowledged or accepted.

Payment Terms
All advertising placements and promotional services are for cash in advance. Rates and restrictions are subject to change at any time, at the discretion of Deep South Today. The advertiser and its agency are jointly and severally liable to pay to Deep South Today’s publications the costs of advertising and promotions placed with Deep South Today’s publications in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Limitation of Liability
Deep South Today shall not be held liable for failure to publish any advertisement or participate in any promotional activity, and it shall not be responsible for any damages resulting from non-publication or non-participation, any consequential, incidental, special, or indirect damages of any kind arising under or in connection with this Agreement or its publications or its participation in any promotional events or activities, or any other damages in excess of the fees actually paid to Deep South Today or its publications hereunder for the relevant advertisements or promotional activities during the six (6) months preceding the date the claim first arose.

The Publisher disclaims responsibility for any omission or errors in advertisements and promotions. No credit will be provided for such errors.

The advertiser and agency jointly and severally commit to defending and indemnifying Deep South Today against all liabilities and expenses, including judgments, attorney’s fees, and costs, arising from claims related to the contents of any published or displayed advertisements or promotions submitted by the advertiser or agency.
The advertiser and agency assume sole responsibility for all statements, endorsements, and other claims contained in the advertisements or promotions they submit for publication and commit to defending and indemnifying Deep South Today from liability, loss, or expense stemming from claims of libel, false advertising, unfair trade practices, unfair competition, trademark, copyright, or patent infringement, and privacy rights violations resulting from the publication of the advertisements and promotions they submit.

Additionally, the Publisher shall not be held liable for any damages of any kind, arising out of or resulting from any claim of a third party related to or arising out of the Publisher’s participation in any promotional events or activities, such as trade shows attended by Publisher, including any such claims arising from the Publisher’s negligence.

Force Majeure
All orders accepted under this Agreement are subject to acts of God, fires, strikes, accidents, and other occurrences beyond Publisher’s control (whether like or unlike any of those enumerated herein) that prevent Publisher from partially or completely producing, publishing, or distributing Mississippi Today’s publications and periodicals. Publisher will have no liability for any delay or failure resulting from the foregoing occurrences.

Agency
If insertion orders, reservation orders, blanket contracts, instructions or documents are executed on behalf of the advertiser by its agency, the agency represents and warrants that it has the authority to bind the advertiser to the terms of this Agreement and agrees to indemnify the Mississippi Today from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of any actual or alleged breach of the foregoing warranty.

General Provision
This Agreement represents the entire agreement between Mississippi Today and the advertiser and replaces any prior agreement or proposed variation. This Agreement may be modified, altered, or amended only by mutual written agreement executed by Mississippi Today and the advertiser or their respective designees. Nothing in this Agreement shall create an agency, partnership, or joint venture between Mississippi Today and the advertiser or agency.

This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state of Mississippi without regard to conflict of law statutes. If any portion of this Agreement is declared illegal, void or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions will not be affected, but will remain in full force and effect.