News & Analysis
Veteran USA TODAY Washington reporter Susan Page to headline Overby program
Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today and a veteran reporter and observer of American politics, will appear at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics on Tuesday, April 29.
After the pandemic, giving students real-world learning experiences has become more difficult, important
Mississippi has been pro-active in beginning and maintaining a variety of activities that benefit scholastic journalism students.
Judge withdraws order that a Clarksdale newspaper must take down editorial
A state judge in Mississippi has withdrawn her order that a newspaper in Clarksdale, Miss., must take down an editorial criticizing local officials for not providing notice of a meeting to consider a tax increase.
Mississippi judge orders Clarksdale newspaper to take down editorial
A state judge in Mississippi has ordered a newspaper in Clarksdale, Miss., to remove an editorial.
A president-centric nation was not part of the plan by the Founders
The use of executive orders to make law has increased rapidly in the last 50 years, and for various reasons.
The Supreme Court’s TikTok decision has created a loophole in the First Amendment
The U.S. government put forward a case that was basically a ruse, and the justices fell for it, banning a specific communicator for the first time.
In new Dylan biopic, his civil rights work is glossed over for other narratives
His music about the struggle for freedom became a powerful symbol of the times, especially in the South.
Danger lies ahead if news media lose protections from the Sullivan standard
Since 1964, defamation law has provided strong protections for ensuring a “profound national commitment” to debate on public issues.
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.