Deep South Today is a nonprofit network of local newsrooms that includes Mississippi Today and Verite News.
Founded in 2016, Mississippi Today is now one of the largest newsrooms in the state, and in 2023 it won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. Verite News launched in 2022 in New Orleans, where it covers inequities facing communities of color.
With its regional scale and scope, Deep South Today is rebuilding and re-energizing local journalism in communities where it had previously eroded, and ensuring its long-term growth and sustainability.
Our Business Model
Deep South Today (EIN #47-2158741) was originally incorporated as the Mississippi News and Information Corporation on Oct. 3, 2014, and was granted its exemption from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on March 6, 2015.
Deep South Today and its subsidiary newsrooms are supported by charitable contributions and grants from individuals and institutional funders, as well as through earned revenue from advertising, underwriting, and sponsorship. All donations are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
A complete list of the Mississippi Today donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
A complete list of the Verite News donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
Share Our Stories
News organizations can republish stories published by Deep South Today newsrooms for free under a Creative Commons license by following these guidelines.
Code of Ethics
Deep South Today and its newsrooms adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.
Policy on Editorial Independence
Deep South Today, as a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), subscribes to INN’s standards of editorial independence as follows:
Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We will maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics and special projects. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a public trust, we do not pay certain taxes. We may receive funds from standard government programs offered to nonprofits or similar businesses.
Our news judgments are made independently — not based on or influenced by donors or any revenue source. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.
Our organization also may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.
We make public all revenue sources and donors who give $1,000 or more per year. As a news nonprofit, we avoid accepting charitable donations from anonymous sources, government entities, political parties, elected officials or candidates seeking public office. We will not accept donations from sources who, deemed by our board of directors, present a conflict of interest with our work or compromise our independence.