Jackson Free Press
Mississippi native Donna Ladd and technology expert Todd Stauffer established the Jackson Free Press in 2002. They launched the publication simultaneously as an online platform and a free biweekly print magazine that same year. The name honored the original Mississippi Free Press, a civil rights movement newspaper started by a multiracial coalition. By May 2004, the schedule shifted from biweekly to weekly distribution. This early period set the stage for a publication dedicated to covering local news without corporate ownership constraints.
Gannett Corp and their newspaper The Clarion-Ledger proposed a new distribution plan in 2006. Independent publishers would have to pay fees and sign exclusive contracts to join the network. The Jackson Free Press joined eight other area publishers to form the Mississippi Independent Publishers Alliance. MIPA created its own distribution system to resist Gannett's demands. Editor & Publisher trade magazine covered the conflict alongside media outlets across the country. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood investigated Gannett's plan. Gannett closed their distribution network in 2009 while MIPA maintained theirs.
Donna Ladd served as editor-in-chief during July 2005 when the magazine reported on James Ford Seale. Seale was a long-suspected Klansman involved in the 1964 abductions and murders of Charles Moore and Henry Dee. Previous media reports claimed Seale had died, but the Jackson Free Press revealed he remained alive in Mississippi. This reporting prompted a renewed federal investigation into the cold case. Federal authorities indicted Seale in 2007 based on evidence gathered through the publication's work. The story demonstrated how local journalism could reopen decades-old crimes.
The Circulation Verification Council audited the magazine in 2016 and found specific circulation numbers. Weekly print readership reached around 37,500 copies during that year. Online visitors totaled approximately 30,000 weekly according to the same audit. A survey conducted in 2016 showed an average reader age of 43.7 years old. More than half of the audience identified as female at 53 percent. Nearly 93 percent of readers had attended college and most earned more than $50,000 annually. These figures defined the publication's
reach across Hinds, Rankin, Madison, and Warren counties.
The Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Jackson Free Press multiple Green Eyeshade awards. Diamond awards also came from the same organization for outstanding reporting. The Associated Press granted several honors for work covering the Louisiana and Mississippi region. Multiple accolades arrived from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies over the years. These recognitions validated the publication's impact despite its small size and local focus. The awards highlighted how independent media could compete with larger corporate outlets.
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Common questions
Who founded the Jackson Free Press and when was it established?
Mississippi native Donna Ladd and technology expert Todd Stauffer established the Jackson Free Press in 2002. They launched the publication simultaneously as an online platform and a free biweekly print magazine that same year.
Why did the Jackson Free Press form the Mississippi Independent Publishers Alliance in 2006?
Gannett Corp and their newspaper The Clarion-Ledger proposed a new distribution plan requiring independent publishers to pay fees and sign exclusive contracts to join the network. The Jackson Free Press joined eight other area publishers to form the Mississippi Independent Publishers Alliance to create its own distribution system and resist Gannett's demands.
What role did the Jackson Free Press play in the James Ford Seale case during July 2005?
Donna Ladd served as editor-in-chief during July 2005 when the magazine reported on James Ford Seale who was a long-suspected Klansman involved in the 1964 abductions and murders of Charles Moore and Henry Dee. This reporting revealed he remained alive in Mississippi and prompted a renewed federal investigation into the cold case.
How many copies did the Jackson Free Press circulate weekly according to the 2016 audit?
The Circulation Verification Council audited the magazine in 2016 and found specific circulation numbers showing weekly print readership reached around 37,500 copies during that year. Online visitors totaled approximately 30,000 weekly according to the same audit.
Which awards has the Jackson Free Press received from professional journalism organizations?
The Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Jackson Free Press multiple Green Eyeshade awards and Diamond awards for outstanding reporting. The Associated Press granted several honors for work covering the Louisiana and Mississippi region while the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies provided multiple accolades over the years.