Press Forward Mississippi will host its 2026 Community Journalism Workshop Oct. 28-29 at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, bringing together local news organizations, journalism educators, students and community partners for two days of discussion, networking and practical training.
The workshop opens Wednesday, Oct. 28, with a focus on “The Future of Local News in Mississippi.” The afternoon will include a keynote address from Mississippi Press President Peter Imes, publisher of The Commercial Dispatch, followed by discussions about how Mississippians get local news and an interactive session looking ahead to the role local journalism can play in strengthening communities over the next decade.
Thursday’s program, “Practical Takeaways for Local News Today,” is designed specifically for local news organizations of all sizes and platforms. Sessions will cover audience-centered reporting, emerging journalism research, new business models, community storytellers, philanthropy and developing the next generation of local journalists.
The afternoon will feature tools and workflows from the Roy Howard Center for Community Journalism at Southern Miss and Scripps-affiliated journalism centers in Maryland, Arizona and Memphis. Topics include community engagement, investigative reporting, AI tools for reporting and open-source sourcing, followed by a demonstration fair.
The workshop is hosted in partnership with Mississippi Press, the Roy Howard Center for Community Journalism at Southern Miss, and the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters, and is free to those working to support local news. Registration is required.
