This marks the end of my 18-year journey with the Mississippi Free Press (MFP) – but I won’t say goodbye just yet. As I leave, I’m grateful for the dedicated team and supporters who’ve helped grow our nonprofit newsroom.
I joined MFP in 2007 as a part-time sales coordinator under Todd Stauffer, my former boss and founder. Part-time turned full-time, and eventually, I became associate publisher when we stopped publishing in 2022. My time with Todd was special – we were both funny and shared a passion for journalism.
Donna Ladd, CEO of the MFP, pitched an idea to start a statewide nonprofit newsroom in 2019. She convinced me that nonprofit journalism could help us continue and grow the Free Press across Mississippi, pay our team better, and cover ignored communities with reporting that rejects sensationalism. We launched the MFP in March 2020 and quickly gained national attention.
Raising money for this beloved team has been a wild ride. We’ve faced challenges, including threats and direct mail pieces, but our dedicated team has remained committed to their work. Fundraising lets everyone contribute, regardless of wealth or background. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in just five years, growing from one major donor to over 3,700 donors.
My departure marks the beginning of a new chapter. I won’t reveal my next plans, but careful planning and leadership have given me the freedom to chart my next step carefully. Tami Jones, Director of Revenue Operations, will take over as publisher – an excellent choice for our future.
Thank you for supporting this incredible work focused on people, not power or sensationalism. I’ll see you around.
Source: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/publishers-note-a-wild-ride-the-story-of-starting-growing-and-passing-the-mfp-torch