Deep South Today is a nonprofit network of local newsrooms that includes Mississippi Today and Verite News.

Founded in 2016, Mississippi Today is now one of the largest newsrooms in the state, and in 2023 it won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. Verite News launched in 2022 in New Orleans, where it covers inequities facing communities of color. With its regional scale and scope, Deep South Today is rebuilding and re-energizing local journalism in communities where it had previously eroded, and ensuring its long-term growth and sustainability.

The Director of Public Programs is a leadership role responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for in-person and virtual events and programs that align with the organization’s mission and goals. This role will oversee the planning and execution of events for all Deep South Today newsrooms.

In this position, you will be a thought partner in developing event concepts, and you will create the marketing strategies and execution plans to ensure they are successful and well attended. This will include coordinating venues, staffing, catering, transportation, accommodations and equipment for in-person events, as well as protocols for virtual events. The Director of Public Programs will be responsible for managing the event budgets and negotiating pricing with vendors while working closely with newsroom leadership to determine details such as the goal of the event, number of guests and expected outcomes. Organization skills, an eye for detail, and the ability to multitask, prioritize, and delegate duties are imperative. Excellent communication skills are required to create productive relationships with vendors, sponsors, and internal clients which is key to a successful career. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer while supporting all Deep South Today locations. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction, planning, oversight, and leadership for newsroom events and event staff including full-time staff and contractors.
• Develop and implement effective marketing plans for generating revenue.
• Communicate event strategies, budgetary needs and any issues with all levels of the organization leadership team.
• Oversee all aspects of event operations, including the run-of-show plans, setup, execution, and procurement of equipment and personnel needs. 
• Manage project budgets and expenses to ensure events are fiscally viable.
• Conduct post-event wrap up meetings with newsroom leadership to document wins and opportunities from each event. 
• Create and implement systems for reviewing event profitability, while monitoring expenses and maximizing revenue.
• Track progress, metrics, and deliverables to demonstrate impact, and/or areas of growth resulting from events.
• Ensure compliance with all venue restrictions and insurance requirements. 

Required Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate and present ideas effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decision-making.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to inspire and motivate peers and newsroom leadership.
• Extensive background in brand strategy, marketing, and consumer engagement.
• Proven experience in a leadership role overseeing in-person and virtual event programming.
• Extensive background in event planning, program development, and content curation.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and develop innovative brand experiences.

Education and Experience: 

Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of progressively responsible management experience in a supervisory role in an event planning function in lieu of college degree. 

Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience managing special events, conferences, and similar large-scale, revenue-generating events

Working conditions:

Work schedule may include weekends, evenings, and/or holidays based on business needs.

Salary Range: $105,000 to $125,000

What you’ll get:

• Highly competitive salary with medical insurance, and options for vision and dental insurance.
• 29 days paid time off.
• 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.

How to Apply:

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.

Please click this link to apply.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

It has been over 10 months since a committee tasked with advising the Mississippi Division of Medicaid last met, despite being required by law to meet quarterly.

The agency postponed the committee’s scheduled meeting for Friday and did not set a new date. Medicaid spokesperson Matt Westerfield said the meeting was canceled because of the “transition in executive leadership” after Executive Director Drew Snyder announced his resignation earlier this month.

The Medical Care Advisory Committee is a federally mandated public body that offers expertise and opinions to the Division of Medicaid about health and medical care services. It is made up of doctors, managed care organization representatives and other Medicaid stakeholders.

The advisory group has not met yet this year because new member appointments – made by the governor, lieutenant governor and house speaker – were not finalized until August, said Medicaid spokesperson Matt Westerfield.

The committee’s recommendations have played a crucial role in crafting state Medicaid policy in the past. In 2023, the advisory group’s recommendation contributed to the Legislature‘s passage of postpartum Medicaid coverage. 

The advisory group’s last meeting was Dec. 8, 2023. 

At that meeting, Snyder and a hospital CEO stalled a vote on pregnancy presumptive eligibility, which allows eligible low-income women to receive timely prenatal care, by suggesting that the committee wait to review further information about the policy at a special meeting in January. 

The special meeting never happened. 

Regardless, the Legislature passed a bill that allows low-income pregnant women to be presumed eligible for health care coverage while their Medicaid application is being processed in May 2023. 

No minutes were produced from the December meeting, said Westerfield. Mississippi’s public records law requires that minutes be kept for all meetings of a public body. 

The committee is composed of at least 11 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. All members must be health care providers or consumers of health services, and each official must include a board-certified physician among their appointments. 

Mississippi Medicaid Executive Director Drew Snyder also made appointments to the committee in accordance with state law and new federal regulations released in April. 

Gov. Tate Reeves made his appointments in February, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann in July, and Speaker of the House Jason White and Snyder in August. 

Hosemann’s spokesperson did not answer a question about the delay in appointments. White did not respond to a request for comment. 

Westerfield said the new federal requirements for the committee affected the timing of Snyder’s appointments. 

The federal policy, which went into effect July 9, heightens the role that beneficiaries play in shaping Medicaid programs and policy. 

The rule requires states to establish a Beneficiary Advisory Council composed solely of Medicaid members, their families and caregivers. Some of those members will serve on the Medical Care Advisory Committee, which will be renamed the Medicaid Advisory Committee, beginning next year.

Mississippi law requires the Medicaid Advisory Committee to provide a written report to the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives before Nov. 30. 

The current members of the committee are as follows: 

• Dr. Jason Dees (Molina Healthcare)
• Dr. Wade Dowell (Indianola Family Medical Group)
• Ellen Friloux (North Mississippi Medical Center)
• Dr. Anita Henderson (Hattiesburg Clinic)
• Joy Hogge (Families as Allies)
• Bennet Hubbard (Advanced Healthcare Management)
• Dr. Jim Hurt (Columbus Orthopaedics)
• Dr. Billy Long (GI Associates, retired)
• Dr. Charles O’Mara (University of Mississippi Medical Center, retired)
• Lesa McGillivray (UnitedHealthcare Community and State)
• Dr. Craig Moffett (Maben Medical Clinic)
• Kent Nicaud (Memorial Health System Hospital at Gulfport)
• Richard Roberson (Mississippi Hospital Association)
• Michael Todaro (Magnolia Health Plan)
• Dr. Marty Tucker (University of Mississippi Medical Center)

The committee also has eight non-voting members, including legislators.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Oct. 18, 1926

Chuck Berry, sometimes called “The Father of Rock & Roll,” was born in St. Louis. 

He traded factory work for music, and his big break came in 1955 when he met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. Berry wound up recording “Maybellene,” which reached #1 on Billboard’s Rhythm and Blues Chart and sold more than 1 million copies. He went on to record “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven!” and “Rock and Roll Music,” which influenced the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys and countless others. 

Bob Dylan called Berry “the Shakespeare of rock ‘n’ roll,” and John Lennon declared, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’” 

In 1986, Berry became the first inductee into the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #5 among the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” and in 2000, the Kennedy Center honored him. Before the Voyager departed earth for deep space, NASA officials included recordings of music from around the world, including Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and “Johnny B. Goode.”

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.