Health Reporting Fellow

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Mississippi Today is seeking applicants to join our award-winning health journalism team through a fellowship made possible through the Sarah Yelena Haselhorst Fund for Health Reporting, which honors the life, work and spirit of Sarah Yelena Haselhorst, a dedicated reporter with a deep passion for journalism that positively impacts the lives of those most affected by critical health issues.

This new opportunity is designed to leverage in-depth reporting that holds institutions accountable, elevates underrepresented voices and informs communities across our region. The successful candidate will examine where, how and why health disparities persist in Mississippi, with a special lens for chronicling how federal shifts in health policy will radiate across the lives of Mississippians.

Based in our newsroom in Jackson, Mississippi, this fellowship offers a 12-month placement and is ideal for candidates with 2-4 years of journalism experience, or for recent graduates from an advanced investigative journalism program. This journalist will work closely with the editor and staff reporters on the health care team, providing the fellow with on-the-job training of complex health issues from some of the brightest health journalists working in the South.

This is afull-time position, and the successful candidate will also be eligible to receive full benefits, including health insurance coverage.

• Be familiar with private and public programs – such as government agencies, professional associations and nonprofits – that work in the health care delivery field.
• Be familiar with research and trends on health disparities, as well as the challenges facing the health profession, particularly in rural communities.
• Have a deep desire to understand the history of health care disparities in Mississippi and to thoroughly report each story with that context in mind.
• Be able to write stories that examine systemic issues and their causes, as well as potential solutions.

Qualified candidates should have:

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related field.
• The ability to work quickly and with accuracy and good news judgment.
• Ability to independently develop and cultivate sources.
• Ability to use social media for research and to engage readers.
• Digital storytelling skills and open mind to trying new approaches.

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to work alongside and learn from award-winning journalists.
• Competitive salary with benefits.
• Use of appropriate technology and equipment.
• Exposure and training in other media of interest.

How to apply:

We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the people and communities we serve. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply, especially those whose lived experiences reflect the communities we serve: including women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities. Please apply here.

If you have any questions, feel free to email Dylan Penny, Director of People and Culture, at [email protected] .