Reporter

The (Columbus, Mississippi) Commercial Dispatch is seeking a journalist to join its award-winning newsroom. The Dispatch, a family-owned six-day daily, has a long history of producing impactful investigative journalism, and while other papers are pulling back, we are seeking to push forward.

While the current opening is for a general assignment reporter, we want to learn more about the type of coverage that appeals to you in the hopes that we can tailor a beat based on both the needs of our readers and your interests.

The right candidate values the impact a committed newspaper can have on the community it serves and understands the important role local sports reporting plays in that effort. Our home is in Columbus, Mississippi, a charming river city of 23,000 with an Air Force base, small liberal arts university and rich history. We also maintain a presence – and office – in Starkville, which is 20 minutes away. Starkville is home to Mississippi State University and has a good assortment of entertainment and dining options.

We’re seeking journalists who value local news reporting and aren't afraid to ask the hard questions. We need someone adept at meeting coverage but also able to sniff out the stories behind the meetings. Time management, high productivity, good news judgment and unflagging persistence are essential attributes.

We are looking for someone with newsroom experience or a degree in journalism. Photography skills are a plus.

All members of our newsroom have the ability to – and are encouraged to – pursue projects of personal interest. These can be features, investigative pieces, data-driven pieces, photo essays or even profiles of local personalities. Compelling stories take many forms, and we are open minded.

The Dispatch, a 12,500-circulation afternoon daily, won General Excellence in both the editorial and advertising divisions of the Mississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest multiple years in a row, but that certainly wasn’t the first time we’ve been recognized. In 2015 we won the Daniel E. Phillips Freedom of Information Award for our investigative journalism work. The following year one of our reporters won the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting. Both awards were given to only one paper of any size state-wide. In 2017, because of our focus on investigative work, we were one of 10 newsrooms selected by Investigative Reporters & Editors to receive complimentary Total Newsroom Training. We like tackling important stories and are building on our successes.

Our journalistic drive and willingness to innovate have resulted in funding assistance during the pandemic from Google News Initiative and Facebook Journalism Project.

If The Dispatch sounds like a good fit for you, email cover letter, resume and writing samples to publisher Peter Imes at pimes@cdispatch.com.