Anna Wolfe and Mississippi Today win Pulitzer Prize for “The Backchannel” investigation

Mississippi In the present day reporter Anna Wolfe gained the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Native Reporting for her outstanding investigation “The Backchannel,” which uncovered the depth of the sprawling $77 million welfare scandal, the biggest embezzlement of federal funds within the state’s historical past.

The investigation, printed in a multi-part collection in 2022, revealed for the primary time how former Gov. Phil Bryant used his workplace to steer the spending of thousands and thousands of federal welfare {dollars} — cash meant to assist the state’s poorest residents — to profit his household and buddies, together with NFL Corridor of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.

Mississippi In the present day’s complete employees and several other supporters gathered at Hal & Mal’s in downtown Jackson for the announcement on Monday afternoon and erupted in celebration when the information was introduced.

“Anna Wolfe deserves this for thus many causes,” mentioned Adam Ganucheau, editor-in-chief at Mississippi In the present day. “The late nights she spent poring via spreadsheets, the sheer variety of roadblocks she confronted from state officers, the thoughtfulness and care she put into her writing, the fervour she at all times has for serving to Mississippians — it’s been absolutely the honor of my life to get an up-close take a look at how arduous she works and the way a lot she cares about our state.”

Wolfe, a 28-year-old Washington state native who has labored her complete skilled journalism profession in Mississippi, reported for greater than 5 years on what would change into “The Backchannel,” logging hundreds of hours of supply work and interviewing for the venture. When she heard that she’d gained the Pulitzer — broadly thought of the nation’s high journalistic achievement — she centered her ideas on the Mississippians she’s coated.

“This award not solely acknowledges underdog reporting in an under-resourced a part of the nation,” Wolfe mentioned. “It says to Mississippians who’ve lengthy been subjected to systemic authorities corruption that their experiences are legitimate and so they deserve higher.”

READ MORE: Mississippi In the present day’s full “The Backchannel” investigation

Earlier than nationwide information coated the welfare scandal, Mississippi In the present day uncovered it first.

Join our free every day publication to get the most recent updates on the welfare scandal.

Mississippi In the present day joins a rising variety of nonprofit, on-line newsrooms to win the award over the previous decade. Notably, Mississippi In the present day’s Pulitzer Prize this yr is only one of a handful of Pulitzers awarded to a nonprofit newsroom centered on native information as in comparison with retailers centered on single-topic or nationwide points.

“In the present day’s win belongs to everybody who has supported our nonprofit newsroom since our 2016 launch,” mentioned Mary Margaret White, CEO at Mississippi In the present day. “We might not be celebrating a Pulitzer Prize with out the help of hundreds of Mississippians who share our perception that an knowledgeable Mississippi is a stronger Mississippi. My honest gratitude and respect goes to Anna Wolfe and the group at Mississippi In the present day for his or her dedication to fact and accountability, and to the entire grant makers and donors who steadfastly champion the affect of native journalism.”

The 2023 Pulitzer for Mississippi In the present day is the seventh awarded to a Mississippi information outlet within the historical past of the prizes. It’s the first awarded to an online-only newsroom within the state’s historical past.

The Solar Herald gained a Pulitzer in 2006 for its protection of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; the Clarion Ledger gained in 1983 for its profitable marketing campaign supporting Gov. William Winter in his legislative battle for public training reform; Hazel Brannon Smith of the Lexington Advertiser gained in 1964 for a collection of highly effective native editorials; Ira B. Harkey of the Pascagoula Chronicle gained in 1963 for a collection of editorials in regards to the state’s faculty integration disaster; the Vicksburg Sunday Put up-Herald gained in 1954 for its protection of a devastating twister; and Hodding Carter II, esteemed editor of The Delta Democrat-Occasions, gained in 1946 for a gaggle of editorials printed with reference to racial, non secular and financial intolerance.

“I hope this Pulitzer Prize recognition serves as a reminder that we at Mississippi In the present day are right here to serve this state for years and years to return,” Ganucheau mentioned. “We’re Mississippians who love this stunning, difficult state and care deeply about its future. We’re proud to champion all the great of our state, and we’re emboldened to offer the accountability journalism that our state wants and deserves. We take significantly our duty to be the eyes and ears of taxpayers who could not have the power or entry to ask huge, crucial questions. We are going to at all times press our elected officers to make sure they’re residing as much as their duties and utilizing their platforms for good and never for corruption. We’re fearless, we’re resilient, and we’re right here for the lengthy, lengthy haul.”

The Pulitzer Prize is probably the most outstanding award earned by Mississippi In the present day, the state’s flagship nonprofit newsroom that was based in 2016. The newsroom and its journalists have gained a number of nationwide awards in recent times, together with: two Goldsmith Prizes for Investigative Reporting; a 2022 Sidney Award for its thorough protection of the Jackson water disaster; a Collier Prize for State Authorities Accountability; and the John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Excellence in Prison Justice Reporting Award.

Mississippi In the present day and its employees have additionally gained dozens of regional and statewide prizes, together with dozens of Society of Skilled Journalists Inexperienced Eyeshade Awards; a number of Mississippi Press Affiliation awards for excellence, together with a Invoice Minor Prizes for Investigative Reporting; and the 2023 Silver Em Award at College of Mississippi.