For more than six decades, Charles M. Dunagin has been a respected voice in Mississippi journalism, building a distinguished career as a reporter, editor, publisher and columnist while mentoring generations of newspaper professionals.
Born June 9, 1935, in Hattiesburg, Dunagin was reared in the area and graduated from Petal High School in 1953. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi in 1957 and began his newspaper career that February as a general assignment reporter for the Jackson State-Times. He went on to cover city hall, the courthouse and federal government before serving as state editor and, ultimately, city editor when the newspaper ceased publication in 1962.
After a brief stint covering police and general assignments for the Jacksonville Journal in Florida, Dunagin returned to Mississippi as assistant editor of the Hattiesburg American. In July 1963, he moved to McComb as managing editor of the Enterprise-Journal, beginning a long association with the newspaper and the community it served. He became editor in 1978 and later publisher, establishing himself as one of Mississippi’s most respected newspaper leaders.
Dunagin’s career at the Enterprise-Journal spanned some of the most consequential decades in Mississippi history. As a journalist and editor, he helped guide the newspaper’s coverage of the civil rights era and the profound political, social and economic changes that followed. His work reflected a deep commitment to local journalism and to the vital role newspapers play in informing their communities, preserving their history and holding public institutions accountable.
Even after retiring from full-time newspaper work in 2001, Dunagin remained an active and insightful observer of Mississippi life through his writing. His columns, drawn from decades of experience in journalism and public life, have combined historical perspective, personal recollection and commentary on the people and events that shaped the state. In 2024, the University of Mississippi honored Dunagin with its Samuel Talbert Silver Em Award, the highest honor presented by the School of Journalism and New Media to a Mississippi journalist. The recognition added to a long list of professional honors and underscored the lasting influence of his career.
Throughout his years in journalism, Dunagin earned a reputation not only for his skill as a newspaperman but also for his willingness to guide and encourage others in the profession. Many editors and publishers he helped train continued to seek his counsel throughout their careers. His influence extended across Mississippi journalism through his service as president of the Mississippi Press Association and as a member of the board of directors of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association.
Dunagin’s commitment to public service was equally extensive. He served as a deacon of First Baptist Church of McComb and held leadership positions with the McComb Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Pike County United Way, Pike County Arts Council, Pike County Economic Development District Trustees and the Mississippi-Louisiana Associated Press. He also was a member of Sigma Delta Chi journalism society and the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
His contributions to journalism have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Silver Inky Award from Mississippi University for Women and the Student Printz Mississippi Medalist Award from the University of Southern Mississippi, in addition to the Silver Em from his alma mater.
Through a career defined by journalistic excellence, professional leadership, mentorship and community service, Charles Martin Dunagin has left an enduring mark on the Enterprise-Journal and the newspaper profession across Mississippi. His dedication to chronicling his community, developing future newspaper leaders and advancing journalism throughout the state earned him a place in the Mississippi Press Hall of Fame.
