News & Analysis
Scholastic journalism programs continue to have a life-changing effect
Despite challenges over budgets and freedom of speech, high school journalism is thriving in Mississippi.
It’s time to re-evaluate the presidency of Jimmy Carter
Tony Pederson, managing fellow of the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics, discusses the presidency of Jimmy Carter.
Curtis Wilkie remembers Jimmy Carter’s campaign and presidency
Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at the age of 100 after almost two years in hospice care. Curtis Wilkie, inaugural fellow at the Overby Center, covered Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign against Gerald Ford from the beginning for the Boston Globe, and he was White House reporter during Carter’s four years as president. Charles Overby, chairman of the Overby Center, recently interviewed Wilkie.
In Western North Carolina, devastating floods have left only faith and hope for Christmas
Terry Mattingly of the Overby Center panel of experts reports that historic storms from Hurricane Helene have left North Carolina people without homes and still in desperate need of help.
The slog toward erasing bias: Long, complicated and incomplete
Charles Mitchell of the University of Mississippi and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts argues that the benefits of diversity initiatives can be significant.
Bluesky and X offer different visions of the marketplace of ideas
Jared Schroeder of the University of Missouri and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts makes the case that the migration to Bluesky is about the space in which we will engage in conversation.
AI and the problems with the black-box classroom
First Amendment scholar Jared Schroeder from the University of Missouri and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts writes that we’ve been concerned about students using AI for writing essays and getting test answers. We should be concerned about AI limiting knowledge and its effect on democratic society.
After the election, we all need to find our ‘better angels’
Tony Pederson, managing fellow of the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics, discusses the need for community post-election.
Evangelicals again likely to give overwhelming support to Trump
Terry Mattingly, a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, discusses evangelicals likely to have overwhelming support for former president Donald Trump.
Eliza Gaines: A Legacy in Journalism and Leadership
Eliza Gains, the publisher of WEHCO Media Inc., shares her insights on the future of journalism, the challenges facing the industry, and her vision for sustaining newspapers in the digital age.
New book on Jack Ruby offers insights into his life and events after JFK assassination
R.J. Morgan, a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, reviews Danny Fingeroth’s new book, Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald’s Assassin.
GOP continues to make gains as Texas Hispanic voting bloc matures
Carlos Sanchez, a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, discusses the Hispanic voting bloc in Texas and the influence they have.
Author Ron Collins on Till: Confront injustice by shining a light on it
The tragic events of the murder of Emmett Till in 1955 and the farcical trial that followed were discussed in a program at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics on Oct. 9. Author Ronald Collins discussed his new book, “Tragedy on Trial: The Story of the Infamous Emmett Till Murder Trial.”
Marty Stuart and the pilgrim’s spot: Philadelphia, Mississippi
Country music icon Marty Stuart along with the Philadelphia Arts Council restored the Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, Miss., to establish the Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music.
Wild presidential elections and memories of 1968
Curtis Wilkie, the inaugural fellow of the Overby Center, discusses the presidential race in 1968 filled with political division and incidents of violence. He compares the race to this year's presidential race as well as offering details of the events that led to the Democratic presidential nomination of Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
Supreme Court clarifies one social media challenge, leaves one for later
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Moody v. Netchoice that the government does not have the authority to dictate what social media companies must include on their sites. Professor Charles Mitchell of the Overby Center discusses the Moody v. Netchoice decision and the immunity issue that awaits the Supreme Court in the future because of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.
Requiem for a historic church building in Dallas
The historic sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Dallas has been standing as a beacon in the heart of the city since 1891. For over 130 years, generations gathered to worship. Until the evening of July 19, when it succumbed to a massive fire. O.S. Hawkins, a former pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, writes about the historic church.
New Awards Laud Integrity in Reporting
The Center for Integrity in News Reporting distributed its first awards May 14 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The center was established through the leadership of Walter E. Hussman Jr., longtime publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
MSPA Successfully Hosts Largest Post-Pandemic Convention
More than 450 high-school journalists gathered at the University of Mississippi on April 2 to celebrate achievements and learn from both peers and professionals.
Q&A with Julie Anderson
The editor-in-chief of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale shares her insights on leading a major Southern newspaper and the evolving media landscape.