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Support Your Community By Supporting High School Football

Over 15 years ago on a day like today, my excitement would be at an all-time high. Why, because 15 years ago, I would be getting ready to start my final season of high school football.

For One Moment: A Black-White Role Reversal

This morning, I woke up to more of the usual-suspect comments under this story: Crime Perception Hurts Jackson Economy. Apparently, I had wigged out the white-guy chorus that always wants to point fingers the other direction when it comes to crime. How? By talking about how our racist, terroristic history against African Americans has led to today's crime situation. They no like that:

Making your move: How to find off-campus housing

Living on campus can be fun, but if you're tired of putting up with late-night study sessions in the hall and always being at school, off-campus housing can be a convenient and cost effective alternative.

Internology 101

As I turned the silver knob on the wooden door with the words "JACKSON FREE PRESS" placed neatly on it, I started to wonder what I was getting myself into. I immediately noticed a bright, lime green room and thought to myself, "I want to work in there."

Attend a Vigil this Sunday to Denounce Murder of James Craig Anderson

Here is the verbatim press release:

We're thrilled to hear that a diverse group has come together in the metro—include Pine Lake Church, the NAACP, Beth Israel and New Horizon Ministries—to honor James Craig Anderson, who was allegedly murder because he was black by a group of white Rankin County teens. They will hold a vigil this Sunday night at New Horizon International Ministries, one block from where the murder took place, to "call for forgiveness and peace for our city" and to "denounce hates brought to this neighborhood." Let's all show up.

Bringing Civility Back to Online Conversations

Here is what the Des Moines Register told readers today:

It was predictable. Allowing anonymous free-for-alls in online newspaper comments—in a way papers never would do in print—is about to go the way of the Hummer. The Des Moines Register, a Gannett-owned paper whose site looks just like the Clarion-Ledger's announced today that it has started allowing only comments from people logged in through Facebook. This somewhat-extreme measure comes after Gannett papers, and many other websites, operated at the other extreme for way too long: allowing just about anything anybody with a fake name wanted to post on their sites. They clearly thought, for a minute, that this was good for page views. And maybe for a minute it was. But, nowadays, all you hear is how nasty the comments are, and readers are flocking away from sites that allow this level of anonymous vitriol and nasty personal comments. People increasingly are only going to such sites for negative entertainment value—the same reason people watch Jerry Springer or pick up Star Magazine. Real news outlets have to have better sense.

Get Yours

The majority of high schoolers don't seem to know it exists.

"I get it once a week." That is the JFP marketing slogan. It's true; some people do pick up a copy of the paper every Wednesday. However, I'm disappointed by how few of those people are my peers.

What do you think of ‘The Help'? About race progress in the state and Jackson?

Now that "The Help" has officially opened, it's getting massive national attention. (Just follow hashtag #thehelp on Twitter to see responses.) We're also getting calls from national media wanting to know how it's being received and, inevitably, how Jackson has changed, or if it has. Of course, this is happening the week that CNN reported that a group of Rankin County teens are accused of coming into Jackson to find a black man to "mess with" and then killed him. Like it or not, we are in the national race spotlight again.

My Exciting NABJ Trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!!!

Yesterday was my first day back home from the 2011 National Association of Black Journalists Conference, and although I am just recovering from jet lag, I am bursting with energy and excitement! This was my first NABJ national conference, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the host city this year. From Wednesday to Saturday, I met journalists and aspiring journalists, attended seminars and panel discussions, and had a great time enjoying Philly!

'Trickle-Down' Explained In About 1:30

Warning, NSFFNW. (Not Safe for Fox News Workplaces.)

Should Sheriff McMillin Challenge Election Outcome?

Friends,

Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said on his Facebook page today that he is challenging the outcome of the Democratic primary, which Tyrone Lewis has now officially won:

White Rankin Teens Accused of Race Murder

CNN has a shocking report today, including surveillance video of Rankin County teens accused of killing James Craig Anderson in a race murder in June. Warning: Video contains disturbing scenes.

Crime: How to Prevent It?

Last night on Facebook, I saw some folks posting about the awful crimes we've seen in Jackson of late, including the Lanier High School student, may he rest in peace. Some of the comments seem to be headed the direction we often see a year or so before mayoral elections kick in: blaming the chief and mayor for not speaking out more. Having covered—or been mired in—the Frank Melton campaign and then mayoral tenure, that kind of language makes me nervous, and just sounds political even if it's not meant to. We're gearing up to do a special issue here on big ideas about crime: how to prevent it, respond to it, talk about it, debate it in a more intelligent, proactive way that doesn't devolve into fingerpointing and the kind of sensationalism that makes it harder to actually prevent crime. As we shape that issue, I want to hear your thoughts and big ideas, as well as see any links to best practices and such that we should incorporate into our issue, and the city's approach.

Field Trip, 2.0

Gosh durn it. I should have known this would happen again. One learning experience doesn't cure you of inanity.

Barbour Declares Budget Victory for ‘Both Republicans and Tea Party'

Gov. Haley Barbour just issued a verbatim statement about the debt deal: "The Budget Control Act is a major victory for conservatives both Republican and Tea Party. It is not perfect, but it is a big step in the right direction, which is all you can ask for when you have a Democrat Senate and a Democrat President. While there will be much left to do after this passes, this is a big step forward."

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