The Mississippi Press Foundation is partnering with the A-Mark Foundation to offer a new statewide Freedom of Information Reporting prize that will award $15,000 in cash to reporters and newsrooms who exemplify the best in-depth reporting on FOI issues.
The contest will be open to all news outlets in Mississippi, including broadcast. First, second, and third place winners of the Daniel M. Phillips FOI Award in the annual Better Newspaper Media Contest held by Mississippi Press will automatically be entered into the A-Mark competition.
Winners in the competition will receive:
The entry window will open Jan. 1, 2026, for work published or aired in calendar 2025. Winners will be announced in advance of the Mississippi Press 160th Annual Meeting next June.
The contest criteria will recognize an investigative story or series by a reporter or team on a single topic related to Freedom of Information or coverage of open meetings and public records. Entries should display original reporting that reveals information that is not generally known and that government bodies or agencies may not want available for public scrutiny.
Judges will consider depth of research, initiative, obstacles overcome, use of database and public records, use of multiple sources, and impact on public policy. Entries will be required to include a brief letter of explanation from the newsroom's top editor.
As noted, no separate entries from Mississippi Press member newsrooms who enter the Daniel M. Phillips Freedom of Information category of the Better Newspaper Media Contest will be required. Members of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters will enter their material via the Mississippi Press contest portal. All entries will be due by Feb. 5, 2026.
Judging will be conducted by a panel of retired Mississippi newspaper and broadcast journalists.
In the past year A-Mark has partnered with 32 other journalism trade groups and professional societies to offer the investigative reporting prizes nationwide.
"We are excited to partner with A-Mark to bring this exciting competition to our members and all journalists in Mississippi," said Mississippi Press Executive Director Layne Bruce. "The A-Mark Foundation's generosity will be a valuable reward for the men and women doing hard work to hold public officials accountable."
More details will be released with the Mississippi Press annual news contest criteria on Jan. 1.
For more information, contact Mississippi Press Executive Director Layne Bruce, 601-981-3060 ext. 4.
