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Mississippi Today wins Sidney Award for Jackson water crisis coverage

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Mississippi Today wins prestigious Sidney Award for coverage of Jackson water crisis

Reporter Alex Rozier and the Mississippi Today newsroom have won the September Sidney Award for their coverage of the Jackson water crisis.

The drinking water system in Jackson — Mississippi’s largest city and home to more than 150,000 residents — failed in late August, leaving thousands of capital city residents with low or no water pressure and little information about when service would be restored.

Mississippi Today’s newsroom sprung to action, deploying every journalist on staff to the story to provide accurate, timely information residents needed immediately. The staff has published more than five dozen stories about the crisis so far in September, covering a broad range of angles. The journalists also relied on public records to add investigative context to why the water system had failed and what was needed to fix it.

The newsroom circulated a text messaging line to reach Jacksonians directly, published an FAQ post, provided resource pages about where to find water and mutual aid links, and partnered with local television station WJTV to stream every major news conference live.

READ MORE: Mississippi Today’s complete coverage of the Jackson water crisis

“Covering this crisis is deeply personal for us,” said Mississippi Today Managing Editor Kayleigh Skinner, highlighting that most newsroom reporters live inside the city limits themselves. “When readers send in questions about whether it’s safe to use their dishwasher, or where in the city they can go to receive free bottled water, we do our best to find them answers because it’s our job, but also because it’s information we need, too.”

The Sidney Award is awarded to outstanding journalism that appeared in the prior month. It is run by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, which honors excellence in journalism in service of the common good, and upholds the legacy and vision of union pioneer and New Deal architect Sidney Hillman. 

Winners so far in 2022 are: The Washington Post, Miami Herald, THE CITY, Reuters, The New York Times, ProPublica, Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, and now Mississippi Today.

Mississippi Today’s deep understanding and long-standing coverage of the Jackson water crisis contributed significantly to the newsroom’s winning, Sidney judges wrote.

“Mississippi Today has been on this story for years,” said Sidney judge Lindsay Beyerstein. “They’re proceeding with determination, creativity and compassion, which shines through in their ongoing coverage.” 

Alex Rozier is Mississippi Today’s data and environment reporter and has covered the Jackson water crisis and flooding for several years. He leads the Mississippi Today Jackson water crisis team, which consists of Anna Wolfe, Geoff Pender, Julia James, Molly Minta, Rick Cleveland, Bobby Harrison, Mina Corpuz, Kate Royals, Isabelle Taft, Will Stribling, Adam Ganucheau, Kayleigh Skinner, Sara DiNatale, Lauchlin Fields, Bethany Atkinson, Nigel Dent, Alyssa Bass, Eric Shelton, Vickie King and Marshall Ramsey.

Sidney Award judges are Jamelle Bouie, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alix Freedman, Harold Meyerson, Katrina vanden Heuvel, and Lindsay Beyerstein.

READ MORE: Mississippi Today wins September Sidney for Crusading Coverage of Jackson Water Crisis

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

Mississippi News

Chickasaw Co. executes a disaster drill at a local nursing home

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www.wcbi.com – Charity Johnson – 2024-11-13 19:07:00

SUMMARY: Chickasaw County emergency responders and Shearer-Richardson Memorial Nursing Home conducted a disaster preparedness drill to test their emergency plans. The scenario involved a tornado followed by a fire, requiring coordination between various emergency teams. The drill, which included state personnel and Okolona High School students portraying disaster victims, focused on ensuring the safety of nursing home residents. Participants, like Ophelia Smith, found the exercise educational and valuable in reducing fear and building preparedness. Linda Griffin, from the county’s Emergency Management Agency, emphasized the importance of practicing real-life events to identify gaps and improve responses.

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Mississippi News

Monroe county sheriff’s department investigating church fire

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www.wcbi.com – Khamari Haymer – 2024-11-13 19:02:00

SUMMARY: Harmony Baptist Church in Monroe County, Mississippi, was destroyed by fire last Friday night, leaving caretaker Mary Nell Dorris in shock. She received a panicked call from a neighbor while asleep and rushed to the scene, where she stayed until the early morning. The historic church, built in the mid 1800s and lacking gas or electric power, is suspected to have been intentionally set ablaze. While no injuries were reported, Dorris mourns the loss of cherished memories associated with the church. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is investigating and urges anyone with information to come forward.

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Mississippi News

Tupelo Police investigate ATM ‘Jackpotting’ heist

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www.wcbi.com – Allie Martin – 2024-11-13 18:58:00

SUMMARY: Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka reported progress in an ATM jackpotting investigation after a bank employee discovered forced entry at the Community Bank Branch on November 13. The machine was found partially open, leading to a significant cash theft. Surveillance footage captured two suspects in a silver Honda Accord, believed to be connected to similar crimes statewide. Jackpotting involves inserting malware into ATMs to dispense cash. The FBI has been notified, and police are collaborating with state agencies. Chief Quaka expressed confidence in making arrests and urged banks to keep their systems updated and secure.

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