Courts and Justice Reporter

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

Benefits offered by this job

29 days PTO

Parental leave

IRA with 3% match

Life insurance

Professional development

Equipment provided

Job summary

Mississippi Today is expanding its reporting on the state judicial system with a dedicated Courts and Justice Reporter. You will cover state and federal courts, examine the impact of court decisions on communities, and collaborate across the newsroom to pursue accountability journalism.

The role includes in-depth interviews, public records requests, data analysis, and a mix of quick-turn daily stories and longer investigative narratives during legislative sessions.

Qualifications

• Experience reporting in accountability journalism.

Responsibilities

• Report on state and federal courts and justice issues.
• Collaborate with newsroom on courts and justice coverage.
• Publish quick-turn daily stories and long-form narratives.
• Conduct public records requests and data analysis for accountability stories.
• Interview sources and verify information with ethical standards.
• Support coverage during legislative sessions.

Skills

Accountability journalism

Interviewing diverse sources

Public records research

Newsroom collaboration

Multimedia storytelling

Data analysis

Audience engagement

Story pacing under deadlines

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

If you’re a reporter with any of the following experience or attributes, this position may be for you.

• 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.

Expectations

• 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.