Courts and Justice Reporte

Mississippi Today; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary starting at $60,000

29 days paid time off per year

Parental family leave up to 12 weeks

Simple IRA with 3% company matching

Life insurance $15,000

Professional training support

Job summary

Mississippi Today, a Pulitzer Prize‑winning newsroom focused on investigative and accountability journalism, is expanding its reporting on the state judicial system with a dedicated Courts and Justice Reporter. This role covers state and federal courts, examining how decisions affect communities, and it emphasizes collaboration across the newsroom in criminal justice, politics and government.

The reporter will conduct in-depth interviews, file public records requests, analyze data, and stay with

Qualifications

• Experience working as a reporter in a newsroom, preferably at least four years, with accountability journalism experience.
• Proficiency in public records requests.
• Proficiency with backgrounding people, conducting sensitive interviews, and maintaining ethical standards.
• Proficiency with PACER and databases and the ability to use OSINT tools.
• Experience writing both shortform and longform stories.
• Ability to work quickly, with accuracy and good news judgment under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in multimedia journalism.
• Ability to use social media for research and to engage readers.

Responsibilities

• Undertake advanced reporting to uncover systemic issues within the judicial system and institutions.
• Collaborate across the newsroom on government, courts and impact of legislation.
• Conduct in-depth interviews, file public records requests, analyze data and tell accountability stories.
• Cover state and federal courts and examine how court decisions affect communities.
• Develop quick-turn daily stories and long-term narrative, analytical and feature stories.

Skills

Public records requests

Interviewing

Ethical standards

Multimedia journalism

Social media research

Data interpretation

Tools

PACER

Databases

OSINT tools

Job description

Mississippi Today, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom focused on investigative and accountability journalism, is expanding its reporting on the state judicial system.

Mississippi Today is launching a dedicated Courts and Justice Reporter position to develop in-depth coverage of legal systems. This role focuses on examining how court decisions and legal structures impact communities, with an emphasis on collaboration across the newsroom, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, politics and government. The reporter will cover state and federal courts, examining how the court systems serve - and sometimes do not serve - people in Mississippi.

This role requires the reporter to conduct in-depth interviews, file for public records, undertake research and analyze the data required to tell impactful stories from an accountability lens, and to stay with the story. The reporter will participate in coverage of justice issues during legislative sessions.

The reporter will work with the team to develop both quick-turn daily stories and long-term narrative, analytical and feature stories.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Advanced reporting experience focused on uncovering systemic issues within the judicial system and other institutions.
• Commitment to the mission of balanced, impactful journalism that centers and respects the voice of the community.
• Ability to connect with people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work within a team-oriented newsroom.
• Work with a team of journalists who are focused on government, courts and the impact of legislation on both.
• Find willing sources and protect them while telling sensitive and timely stories.
• Build trust: Many people who have been impacted by inequities in Mississippi have been victims of predatory practices and forces. This will require empathy, patience and savvy.
• Work with our Audience Team and data and visual journalists to create compelling story presentations.

Qualified candidates should have:

• Experience working as a reporter in a newsroom, preferably at least four years, with some experience in accountability journalism.
• Proficiency in public records requests.
• Proficiency in backgrounding people, conducting sensitive interviews, and maintaining ethical standards.
• Proficiency with PACER and databases and the ability to use OSINT tools.
• Experience writing both shortform and longform stories.
• Ability to work quickly, with accuracy and good news judgment under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in multimedia journalism.
• Ability to use social media for research and to engage readers.

What you'll get:

• The opportunity to work alongside award-winning journalists and make significant contributions to Mississippi's top nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news and information source.
• Salary begins at $60,000 and is commensurate with experience.
• Use of appropriate technology and equipment.
• 29 days of paid time off per year.
• 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.

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.