Charles Mitchell, professor in the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, analyzes the reasons for the historic election of Sen.-elect Scott Colom. Colom will be the first Black senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction.

Every day in cities and towns across the United States, city councils, county commissions, local zoning boards and many other government bodies weigh issues and make decisions that affect residents. One way that people learn about and get a say in these decisions is through public meetings.

Together, public meeting laws and the First Amendment help ensure that government remains of, by and for the people. This article was researched and written with contributions from Freedom Forum Staff Writer Karen Hansen, along with Freedom Forum experts Senior Fellow for the First Amendment Gene Policinski, Vice President and First Amendment Expert Kevin Goldberg, and First Amendment Specialist Alex Morey.

The Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics hosted the premiere documentary film screening of “The Chancellor: The Robert Khayat Story,” on Oct. 29 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi. Overby Center board member David Crews directed and produced the film.

Charles Mitchell, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, discusses the uncalled midterm election race in Mississippi between Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Scott Colom.

Tony Pederson, managing fellow of the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics, discusses how President Donald Trump was a part of the midterm vote through his brand. In an election-night interview with The New York Times as the votes began to show a Democratic sweep, President Donald Trump tried to blame turnout, saying that Republicans couldn’t get the vote out because he wasn’t on the ballot. But he was a part of the vote in every state where he had barnstormed in the two weeks before the midterm and, especially, where he had put his brand forward in supporting poor candidates.