Mississippi Today wins top awards for reporting, investigations and Freedom of Information from the Mississippi Press Association

By Mississippi Today | Originally published by Mississippi Today

BILOXI – Mississippi Today journalists received some of the top awards in the Mississippi Press Association’s 2025 Better News Media Contest, with winners announced Saturday during the association’s annual meeting.

Michael Goldberg and Gwen Dilworth received the Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Journalism (all multi-day publications) for “Behind Bars, Beyond Care,” a series about problems with the health care system in Mississippi prisons. 

Dilworth received the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting (all multi-day publications) for  “Quick surgeries, scars and facelifts that fade: Complaints pile up about Jackson plastic surgeon.” 

Allen Siegler received the Daniel M. Phillips Freedom of Information Award (all publications) for his series, “The Black Box: Inside Mississippi’s opioid settlement spending.” Judge’s comment: “A powerful indictment of Mississippi’s handling of millions of dollars in opioid settlement at the state and local levels. Well written and deeply sourced.”

Mississippi Today competed in Class A, the largest division, for newspapers and news sites that publish multiple days each week. Mississippi Today journalists received these first place awards:

– General News Story: Dilworth for “Quick surgeries, scars and facelifts that fade: Complaints pile up about Jackson plastic surgeon.” Judge’s comment: “A well written, well reported and comprehensive report.” 

– In-Depth Investigative Coverage: Goldberg and Dilworth for “Behind Bars, Beyond Care.” Judge’s comment: “Well, this is outstanding journalism. The treatment of people under care of state government is reprehensible. These stories do an excellent job of exposing state-sponsored health care corruption. It’s about politics, accountability and human suffering. There are precise and horrifying examples. … This is terrific reporting.”

– Business News Story: Molly Minta for “‘We shall see’: Plasma donation center hailed as sign of ‘revitalization’ remains but a lifeline for residents with few job prospects.” Judge’s comment: “An off beat, well told business story. Lots of detail, beautifully written, multiple sources and voices.”

– Sports Column: Rick Cleveland for “Egg Bowl week begins as Kiffin’s run at Ole Miss appears to be at end.” Judge’s comment: “Your analogy is good, and the way you set out your points is smooth and effective. Your knowledge is consistently displayed.”

– Best News Package: Alex Rozier for “Coast moved toward resilience since Katrina, but insurance is a lingering ‘disaster.” Judge’s comment: “A well-written and reported story brought to life with strong photos and robust graphics.” Photos were by Vickie King.

– Editorials: Bobby Harrison for three pieces: “Remember what we are celebrating on the Fourth of July,” “Shocker! All six lawmakers appointed to finalize the bill banning Mississippi DEI are white,” and “Vouchers to Mississippi schools teaching Christian values are OK, but what if other values are taught?” Judge’s comment: “These are comprehensive editorials on important topics – the shame of thin-skinned public officials, bizarre and unfair conference committee appointments by the majority party and private schools want public funding but not public accountability. … The editorials clearly outline problems and offer solutions.”

– Best Use of Social Media (all multiday publications): ”In a brutal Mississippi jail, inmates say they were enlisted as enforcers” with work by Richard Lake, Mukta Joshi, Nate Rosenfield, Brian Howey and Jerry Mitchell. Judge’s comment: “Exceptional use of social media to push an important story. Incredible engagement numbers.”

Mississippi Today journalists also received other recognition:

– Siegler received second place for the A-Mark Prize for Freedom of Information Reporting for “The Black Box.”

– In-Depth Investigative Coverage: Goldberg and Taylor Vance, second place for “House Speaker Jason White, staff treated to Super Bowl by gambling giant pushing for legalized betting.” Siegler, honorable mention for “The Black Box.”

– Business News Story: Rozier for “’A real twisted animal’ in Holly Springs: What’s next for the spiraling power provider”; Molly Minta, honorable mention for “Setting the runway or flying the plane in Jackson’s economic development department.”

– Commentary Column: Geoff Pender, second place for “‘That’s not governing’: Most lawmakers don’t know what they passed in secret, $7 billion budget.”

– Feature Story: Leonardo Bevilacqua, honorable mention for “Running the ball with the winningest Delta football team.”

– General News Photograph: King, third place for “102-year-old Goodman man says key to life ‘is love one another.’”

– Spot News Photograph: Eric Shelton, third place for “The 82nd National Folk Festival.”

– Pictorial Series: Shelton, honorable mention for “THEE homecoming parade brings music and joy for Jackson State fans.” 

– Best News Package: Minta, second place for “Regulators say Jackson’s Rebelwood is habitable despite mold, leaks faulty electricity – and lots of bullet holes.”

– Lede: Bevilacqua and Mina Corpuz, second place for “‘I could see the bodies dropping’: Mississippi communities are shaken by shootings at homecoming events.”

– Use of Online Video (all multiday publications): Mississippi Today, third place for “In a brutal Mississippi jail, inmates say they were listed as enforcers,” with work by Lake, Joshi, Rosenfield, Howey and Mitchell.

– Best Use of Social Media (all multiday publications): Mississippi Today, second place for “Opioid Settlement Spending,” with work by Lake and Siegler.

– Community Service Award (all multiday publications): Mississippi Today, third place for “Mississippi Today Health Resource Guide,” a project led by Kate Royals.

This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Source: Original Article