Community Health Reporter
Mississippi Today is seeking a reporter to join our health team.
This position will focus specifically on women’s health and will be a cornerstone member of our health team, which serves Mississippians with access to data, fact-finding and dissemination of in-depth and explainer public health journalism. This team reports on how the health care system works, and in many cases does not, for Mississippians. We dig deep on how health care providers, hospitals, insurers, governments and consumers are interconnected and impacted, with an eye for equity and access. Our readership includes thought leaders and everyday Mississippians who need accurate and easy-to-understand information on public health matters.
The ideal journalist will be someone who has an interest in women’s health, with an emphasis on reproductive rights and justice. Mississippi is home to the Dobbs lawsuit, the precursor for the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022. We are looking for a reporter who is interested in exploring what abortion looks like in the state after this decision and how it is impacting women and families. We’re also looking for someone who wants to report on policies that specifically impact women and families on topics ranging from Medicaid to birth control access to maternal and infant mortality.
This candidate will serve on a five-person team — including an editor, three reporters and a photojournalist — to focus on daily/breaking news stories as well as deeper-dive investigative features.
Mississippi is a gold mine for eager journalists. In this position, you’ll travel the state and meet a diverse range of residents. The stories to be told here about women and the policies that impact them are limitless.
Expectations:
Work with a small team of journalists who are focused solely on health in Mississippi.
Develop your own health story ideas as well as collaborate closely with a small team of journalists
Get people to talk, finding willing sources and protect them while telling sensitive and timely stories
Build trust: Many people who have been impacted by poor health services in Mississippi have been victims of predatory actions from other journalists or media outlets. This will require empathy, patience and savvy.
Produce a monthly newsletter called the Inform(h)er that showcases the variety of stories produced on the beat and some original content
Work with our Audience Team and data and visual journalists to create compelling story presentations.
It’s a plus if you have:
Mississippi reporting experience
Experience writing a combination of both longform stories and investigations
A demonstrated ability to work quickly under tight deadlines
A knowledge and understanding of nonprofit journalism
Experience working in a collaborative newsroom setting
Experience with Mailchimp
What you’ll get:
The opportunity to work alongside award-winning journalists and make significant contributions to Mississippi’s only fully staffed, nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news and information source.
Annual salary of $42,000 to $45,000 with medical insurance, and options for vision and dental insurance.
29 days paid time off.
Up to 12 weeks of parental family leave, with return-to-work flexibility.
Simple IRA with 3 percent company matching. Group-term life insurance provided to employees ($15,000 policy).
Support for professional training and attending industry conferences.
How to Apply:
We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the people and communities we serve. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this position, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people who are differently abled.
Email resume and clips to Community Health Editor Kate Royals at kroyals@mississippitoday.org.