/From the editors We couldn’t have made it through this year without you

From the editors We couldn’t have made it through this year without you

Phil Graham, the late publisher of the Washington Post, described journalism as “the initial rough draft of history.” Mississippi Today is proud to have Mississippi Today capture that sentiment. We followed closely the response of the government to an international pandemic. This was a national reckoning with racism that led to historic changes in Mississippi and was arguably the most contentious year in American history. We exposed the state’s modern-day debtor’s prison and revealed what is being called the biggest embezzlement operation in state history. Our goal was to tell more stories this year through the eyes and experiences of Mississippians affected by state leaders’ decisions. We saw and heard so many Mississippians experiencing trauma and loss this year. This year was no exception. We take the responsibility to tell those stories seriously. We worked hard to find the good in Mississippians, even when our reporters were going through their own tragedies and losses. All those stories were told respectfully. This year, we took time to think about who we are and what we need to do. We were able to think clearly and create several initiatives and projects that will help us improve and grow our state. An essay series about race was launched. It is based on the belief that everyone needs to do more to address racism. The Community Ambassador Program was created to better understand Mississippians’ problems, successes, and stories. We have remained true to our promise to hold government officials accountable for their actions. And we have continued to provide context and depth that is unmatched anywhere else. It has been a pleasure serving you this year. We are inspired by your willingness to engage with your state. We look forward to growing together in 2021. We are grateful for your continued support. We are honored to be able to share this report with you. To look back on this extraordinary year of growth, loss, uncertainty, and hope, visit the Mississippi Today 2020 Recap. To support this work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today. This will allow us to continue important work such as this one.