Mississippi Youth Media Project

04/06/2026

Two stories by 2025 Youth Media Project students—one by Ava Washington, the other by Taylor Brandon and CJ Davis—tied for top honors in the Individual News Publication Best Depth Reporting category at the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention on March 31, 2026.

Read "A Long Way from Home" - https://www.jxnpulse.com/2025/10/a-long-way-from-home-mississippi-father-faces-deportation-as-future-hangs-in-the-balance/

Read Breaking the Silence - https://www.jxnpulse.com/2025/08/breaking-the-silence-the-mental-battles-men-face-alone/

04/02/2026

2025 Youth Media Project student Morghan Thompson took first-place honors at the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention on March 31, 2026. Her article, “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Reality of Teen Mental Health Today,” won the Individual News Publication Best Feature Story award.

Read it here: https://www.jxnpulse.com/2025/11/hidden-in-plain-sight-the-reality-of-teen-mental-health-today/

11/27/2025

“Today, members of the Black community are taught to disregard emotions that they have. They downplay emotions, making them seem less important than they are," Dr. Tonya Hays told the Youth Media Project.

Media stereotypes mock Black women and their influence leads to low self-esteem.

11/26/2025

“One of the main things I’ve noticed in my teen patients is that they see a lot of flashy things, which causes them to have some self-doubt or self-loathing because they may or may not have access to those things,” mental-health therapist Jaylin Goodloe told the Youth Media Project.

Teenagers struggle with mental-health issues, but their struggles are often ignored or missed.

11/24/2025

Black women die at a higher rate than any other ethnic group during or after childbirth, making the importance of their voice in their treatment paramount.

Read more at: https://www.jxnpulse.com/2025/11/the-struggle-for-equitable-healthcare/

11/19/2025

UMMC Assistant Professor Dr. Justin Turner told the Youth Media Project that many Black Americans still struggle to trust the health-care system. He pointed to historical abuses, like the Tuskegee experiments, as a major reason.

“Although that was over 70 to 80 years ago, the remnants of that still linger in the minds of Black Americans.”

Read more at:

Reforming individual mindset and health-care practices can allow Black Americans to lead healthier lives despite the history of medical malpractice.

11/03/2025

YMP doesn't end with the close of the summer session. Students continue to contribute throughout the school year.

Mississippi Youth Media Project students helped MFP founder Donna Ladd facilitate two Solutions Circles and a Systems Analysis with other high school journalism students at the 2025 Fall Mississippi Scholastic Press Association on Oct 30, 2025.

10/10/2025

A 17-year-old watched as ICE arrested his immigrant father, Hector, on I-20 in June.

With Hector now out on bond, the family faces mounting legal fees and the fear of deportation.

"He's my role model," his son says. "My biggest supporter. I rely on him a lot."

Read the full story at:https://www.jxnpulse.com/2025/10/a-long-way-from-home-mississippi-father-faces-deportation-as-future-hangs-in-the-balance/

06/25/2025

MFP Reporter Heather Harrison is speaking to YMP students this morning about healthcare reporting at the Mississippi Free Press. She gave our young writers tons of tips and resources. 📝

06/24/2025

BTS with the Youth Media Project as they took their headshots!

🎥: Kirstyn, YMP Student Mentor

06/23/2025

This summer, our talented young journalists are investigating health disparities across Mississippi. Stay tuned to follow their journey, stories, and impact.

🎥: YMP students CJ and Taylor

06/20/2025

The Mississippi Youth Media Project is a program that introduces high school students to systemic reporting in the Mississippi Free Press newsroom.

Hear from our 2024 cohort here: