Introduction to Mississippi News Media
Mississippi is a state in the Southern United States bordered by Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and the Mississippi River to the west. With a population of 2,976,149 (as per 2013), Mississippi is the 34th populous state in the country and has remained a significant market to newspapers & news websites.
The history of newspapers & printing press in Mississippi can be traced back to 1802, fifteen years before Mississippi officially became a part of the union.
First Press in Mississippi
The first press in Mississippi was established shortly after the US Congress created the Mississippi territory in 1804. It was Andrew Marschalk who set up the first printing press in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1802.
Andrew Marschalk was an officer in the US Army, and was assigned to Natchez to print the laws of the newly formed territory by the then Governor of Mississippi.
Mississippi Herald – First Newspaper in Mississippi
The first newspaper to be published in Mississippi was the Mississippi Herald. It was published by Andrew Marschalk, and the paper first hit the newsstands in 1804. Mississippi Herald was short-lived like most early newspapers. Lack of revenue and access to news was cited as the reasons for the closure of the paper in 1807.
After the closure of the newspaper, Andrew Marschalk moved to the nearby town of Washington and began publishing The Washington Republican in 1815. The paper was a weekly publication, and it remained in circulation until 1817.
As of 2020, most of the state’s large towns are served by local dailies and weeklies which cater to the small towns and communities. Apart from the daily & weekly newspapers, online news websites too have an active presence in the state.
This article will look at the top newspapers & news websites in the state and discuss in brief about them.
If you are looking for exclusive information on US Newspapers & News Websites, you can visit the article written by our US Media experts.
The Clarion-Ledger
The Clarion-Ledger is a daily newspaper in Mississippi owned by Gannet serving the Jackson Metro Area. The paper’s history can be traced back to The Eastern Clarion, founded in Jasper County, Mississippi, in 1837.
Publications
1. A daily printed edition circulated in the morning.
2. An online news website with in-depth coverage on news & updates, weather updates, and sports news from the Jackson Metro Area.
3. An E-edition of the newspaper that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the paper’s official website.
Social Media Presence
Apart from a robust online presence, The Clarion-Ledger also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These social media handles are regularly updated with the latest news & updates. Readers can choose follow these social media handles for prompt updates.
The Clarion-Ledger Android App
Mississippi Today
Mississippi Today is a digital news publication in Mississippi that was founded in 2014. It is a Non-profit, nonpartisan news site primarily focused on covering the news & updates on Mississippi government, politics, and public policy issues.
Source of Funding
Being a Non-profit and Nonpartisan news site, Mississippi Today is supported by grants from foundations, including $250,000 from both the Knight Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Apart from these, they also receive tax-deductible contributions from donors, members, sponsors, and by the community-at-large.
What do they cover?
Mississippi Today is mainly focused on covering news and updates about the Mississippi government, politics, and public policy issues. There are dedicated sections on the website for news & updates on Government, Justice, Education, Culture, sports, and more.
Being a non-profit news website, the entire contents are available to the users for free.
Social Media Presence
Apart from a robust online presence, Mississippi Today also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These social media handles are frequently updated with latest news & updates.
Sun Herald
Sun Herald is a daily newspaper in Biloxi, Mississippi, covering news & updates on Southern Mississippi. The paper was first launched in 1884 as the Weekly Herald and is currently owned by The McClatchy Company.
Apart from the paper’s printed edition, they also publish an online news website, and an e-edition. While readers can access the online news portal for free, only paid subscribers can access the e-edition.
Daily Journal.
As the name suggests, the Daily Journal is a daily newspaper in Mississippi that was first launched in 1872. As of 2020 the paper is owned by Journal, Inc and is primarily focussed on covering news and updates from Northern Mississippi.
Other than the paper’s printed edition, they also publish an online news website and an e-edition. While the online news portal contents are available for free, only paid subscribers can access the e-edition.
Apart from the Daily Journal, Journal, Inc also publishes nine weekly or bi-weekly newspapers in Mississippi.
Chickasaw Journal
Chickasaw Journal is a weekly newspaper in Houston, Mississippi, USA, owned by Journal Publishing Company, Inc. The paper is primarily focused on reporting local news & updates from Chickasawcounty.
Apart from the weekly printed edition; they also publish an online news website and an e-edition of the paper. The online news website is regularly updated with the latest news and updates. While the contents on the online portal are available for free, only paid subscribers can access the paper’s e-edition.
Monroe Journal
Monroe Journal is a weekly newspaper in Mississippi owned by Journal Publishing Company, Inc. The newspaper was first launched in 2008 by the merger of two newspapers viz; Aberdeen Examiner and The Amory Advertiser.
The paper mainly focuses on reporting the latest news and updates from Monroe county.
Apart from the weekly printed edition, they also publish an online news portal and an e-edition. While readers can access the contents on the news website for free, access to the e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
New Albany Gazette
New Albany Gazette is a bi-weekly newspaper in Mississippi that was first launched in 1889. Since its inception, the paper has been covering news & updates about New Albany and Union County.
As of 2020, the paper is owned by the Journal Publishing Company, Inc. Other than the paper’s printed edition, New Albany Gazette also publishes an e-edition and hosts an online news portal. While readers can access the news portal for free, access to the e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
Pontotoc Progress
Pontotoc Progress is a community newspaper in Mississippi owned by The Journal Publishing Company, Inc. The paper was first published in 1929 and has since remained a weekly newspaper.
Pontotoc Progress also publishes an online news website & an e-edition. Unlike the weekly printed edition, the online newspaper is frequently updated with the latest news & updates. While readers can access then news portal for free, access to the e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
Southern Sentinel
Southern Sentinel is a weekly newspaper in Mississippi owned by The Journal Publishing Company, Inc. The paper was first launched in 1970 and had since been covering news & updates from the Tippah County.
Apart from the weekly printed edition, they also publish an online news website and an e-edition of the paper. While readers can access then news portal for free, access to the e-edition is restricted to paid subscribers.
Southern Sentinel also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Readers can choose to follow their social media handles for regular updates.
Ripley Southern Sentinel Online
Ripley Southern Sentinel ePaper
Jackson Free Press
Jackson Free Press is a non-profit community magazine that is circulated for free in Jackson, Mississippi. The magazine was first launched by Donna Ladd & Todd Stauffer in 2002. As of 2020, Jackson Free Press distributes approximately 15,000 free copies in the Jackson Metropolitan Area.
The magazine is widely known as an alternative covering news, culture, and politics for Mississippi’s capital city. Apart from the weekly printed magazine, they also publish an online website. Readers can access the contents on the website for free.
The Natchez Democrat
The Natchez Democrat is a community newspaper in Mississippi serving the Adams county. The paper was first launched in 1916 and has since remained a daily newspaper.
As of 2020, the paper covers news & updates from Adams county. Apart from the daily printed edition, they also publish an online news website.
Mississippi Business Journal
As the name suggests, the Mississippi Business Journal is a weekly newspaper based in Jackson, Mississippi. The paper was first launched in 1979, and as of 2020, it is owned by Journal Inc.
Being a business newspaper, Mississippi Business Journal is focussed on covering news and concerning the Mississippi business world.
Mississippi Business Journal Online
The Commercial Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch is a daily newspaper in Mississippi serving the Columbus metro region. The paper was founded in 1922 by merging two erstwhile newspapers, The Commercial and The Dispatch. Both the printed edition and the online news website covers all facets of news and updates concerning the Columbus metro region.
The Commercial Dispatch Online
The Commercial Dispatch ePaper
GulfLive
GulfLive is an online news website in Mississippi owned by the Alabama Media group. The news website primarily covers news & updates from The Mississippi Gulf Coast. Apart from the online news website, GulfLive also has an active presence of Facebook & Twitter.
The Student Printz
As the name suggests, The Student Printz is a weekly student newspaper published by the students at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. The paper is primarily focussed on covering news & updates from the university campus. Apart from the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an online news website.
The Meridian Star
The Meridian Staris a tri-weekly newspaper in Mississippi serving the Lauderdale County and adjoining portions of West Alabama and East Mississippi. The newspaper was launched in 1898 as the Evening Star, and over the years, it went on to become a popular newspaper in Mississippi.
Apart from the printed edition of the paper, The Meridian Star also publishes an e-edition. Paid subscribers can access the e-edition from the official website of the paper.
The Oxford Eagle
The Oxford Eagle is a local newspaper in Mississippi serving the city of Oxford in Lafayette County. It has been the primary source of news, sports and community information since it was first launched in 1876.
Hattiesburg American
Hattiesburg American is a thrice-weekly newspaper in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The paper primarily serves the readers in Forrest, Lamar, and surrounding counties in south-central Mississippi. Hattiesburg American was first launched in 1887 as the Hattiesburg Progress and was renamed in 1917. As of 2020, the paper is owned by Gannet.
Hattiesburg American Android App
The Vicksburg Post (Warren County)
The Vicksburg Post is a daily newspaper in Vicksburg, Mississippi. It is a local paper and primarily covers the local news & updates from in and around Vicksburg. Apart from the printed edition, they also host an online news website.
Enterprise-Journal
Enterprise-Journal is a community newspaper in McComb, Mississippi. The paper is published six days a week, and it mainly covers the market located in the important economic corridor between Baton Rouge and Jackson. Apart from the daily printed edition, they also publish an e-edition that can be accessed from the paper’s official website.
Laurel Leader-Call
Laurel Leader-Call is a thrice-weekly newspaper that is published in Laurel, Mississippi, covering Jones County. The paper was first launched in 1911 as The Laurel Daily Argus and was later renamed to Laurel Leader-Call in 1930. The paper also has an active presence on the web and social media platforms.
Laurel Leader-Call Android App
Starkville Daily News
Starkville Daily News is a daily newspaper in Mississippi serving Starkville. It is one of the oldest community newspapers in the region and has remained in circulation since 1903. Both the print and the online news portal of the paper cover all news and updates from Starkville. Apart from the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an e-edition.
Starkville Daily News Android App
The Clinton Courier
The Clinton Courier is a newspaper in Clinton, Mississippi, published on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Unlike the newspaper’s printed edition, the paper’s online news portal is frequently updated with the latest news and updates. The Clinton Courier also has an active presence on various social media platforms.
Daily Leader
The daily leader is a daily newspaper in Mississippi serving Brookhaven and regions in the southern Mississippi, including Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, and Copiah County area. Apart from the daily printed edition, they also publish an e-edition that can be accessed from the paper’s official website.
The Sea Coast Echo
The Sea Coast Echo is the official newspaper of Bay St. Louis and Hancock County, Mississippi. The paper was first launched in 1822 and had, over the years, become a prominent newspaper in Bay St. Louis and Hancock County. Apart from the daily printed edition, they also publish an e-edition that can be accessed from the paper’s official website.
Daily Mississippian
The Daily Mississippian is an award-winning student newspaper published by the students at the University of Mississippi. The paper was first launched in 1911 and has since remained an independent publication run by the students. Apart from the paper’s printed edition, they also host an online news portal and has an active presence on various social media platforms.
Greenwood Commonwealth
The Greenwood Commonwealth in Mississippi serving the Greenwood city in Leflore county. The paper first hit the newsstands in 1896 and has since been coveting news & updates from Greenwood. Apart from the paper’s printed edition, they also host an online news portal that can be accessed for free.
Conclusion
Newspapers were once a profitable business in Mississippi but with the beginning of 21st century the newspapers’ financial fortune has declined. Like all other states in the country, the newspapers in Mississippi are facing a steady decline in their circulation.
As per the data published by the Newspaper Association of America, it is estimated that the United States lost almost 1,800 papers since 2004.
The dwindling circulation has directly impacted the newspapers’ revenue from circulation and indirectly impacted their revenue from advertisements. With social media offering a much better platform for advertisements, the newspapers’ revenue form ads have dried up.
In a desperate effort to stay afloat, most newspapers have reduced their publication schedule and others are either forced to shut down or merge with other newspapers.
“There is absolutely no question that the next ten years are going to be really bad for the newspaper business. This is a time of wrenching change and chaos. All of our assumptions about newspapers are going to be changed. The format, the business model, the organization of newspapers have outlived their usefulness.”
Mr. Parr, Jupiter Analyst
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