Economy & Jobs Reporter

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is the lifeblood of the state’s economy. From the aerospace industry in Hancock County to casino gaming in Harrison County to shipbuilding and oil in Jackson County, what happens on the Coast shapes the economic future of Mississippi. And, of course, Coast tourism remains one of Mississippi’s most effective ways to attract out-of-state dollars.

If you are a journalist with a deep curiosity about economic development, tiny business viability and job growth in Mississippi — from the sociological and political factors that shape job attainment and creation to the influence of public policy on Main Street — you might be the reporter Mississippi Today seeks to create a recent beat.

The Economy and Jobs Reporter, who will live and work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, will report and write both longform and tiny stories about Mississippi’s business climate, including policies and regulations that impact Mississippi jobs, economic development and entrepreneurship. This position will explore the impact of the broadband and digital gap on rural businesses in Mississippi, and what the future of work looks like to communities across our state. Using an equity and inclusion lens, the Economy and Jobs Reporter will report on what roles both federal and state government are taking to support women and minority-owned business, and how effective these efforts are for economic recovery in a COVID climate.

The Economy and Jobs Reporter will produce stories that support Mississippi Today’s vision and mission, which is to hold elected officials accountable and inform citizens about how the decisions made by the state’s powerful affect their lives.

This reporter’s work will likely be co-published and produced in partnerships with newsrooms both in Mississippi and part of a wider network.

• This position will be based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 
• Report and write longform and tiny stories about Mississippi economic issues, including general news coverage of economic development and the workforce in key areas across the state, including the Gulf Coast.
• Investigate the inner workings of the Mississippi’s economic development initiatives and regional economic development organizations, with an eye for racial justice and equity. 
• Closely cover the economic development field in Mississippi, building relationships with business leaders, government entities, employment advocates and individuals affected by barriers to family sustaining employment in Mississippi.
• Use a solutions lens to explore grassroots efforts and state programs that are working to improve the business environment, the skilled labor job surplus and record low labor force participation in Mississippi.
• Develop sources and report in diverse communities, including urban and rural, and engage members of the public in identifying opportunities and barriers in business development and job attainment.
• Proven ability to work independently under deadline pressures.
• Collaborate with the Audience Team to think creatively about formats and tools for communicating these topics to a broad, statewide audience.
• Work with our data, visual and social media journalists to create compelling story presentations.
• Communicate with colleagues on stories and projects — while there will be plenty of opportunities for solo projects and stories, Mississippi Today is a collaborative newsroom that often shares bylines.

• Experience covering business or economic development issues, with an understanding of how economic development agencies are structured, funded and managed.
• Experience with filing records requests and working with data is encouraged but not required.

• 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.
• Highly competitive salary with medical insurance, and options for vision and dental insurance.
• Cell phone stipend.
• 29 days paid time off.
• Up to 12 weeks of parental family leave, with return-to-work flexibility.
• Simple IRA with 3% 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.

To apply, please fill out this form.