Andrew Lack Photo

Non-profit local news isn’t a charity case—it’s a civic necessity. Without it, communities lose their voice and their leverage.

— Andrew Lack, Journalist, Producer and Media Executive

 

Andrew Lack’s vision for non-profit journalism is to revitalize local news in the Deep South through a regionalized, robust network of newsrooms that hold city and state governments accountable. The nonprofit, Deep South Today, which Lack co-founded and chairs, supports four independent, nonpartisan newsrooms with more than 50 journalists across the region. The organization has established ambitious goals to expand its impact and reach over the next five years:

  • Geographic expansion across the Deep South
  • Journalism fellowships and training programs
  • Enhanced digital presence and engagement
  • Innovative membership programs

 

 

A nonprofit newsroom serving Lafayette and South Louisiana with in-depth local reporting that helps readers understand the issues shaping their communities.

An investigative journalism project focused on mass incarceration, policing, and criminal justice. In August 2025, it became part of Deep South Today, focusing on criminal justice reporting in the South.

An award-winning nonprofit newsroom covering politics, education, public health, justice, the environment, equity, and sports, with a focus on accountability and nonpartisan reporting.

A nonprofit newsroom centering stories and perspectives from historically underrepresented communities, with coverage of education, housing, health care, criminal justice, the environment, and government accountability.

Impact & Legacy

Andy recently donated $7 million to support nonprofit journalism in Louisiana and Mississippi through Deep South Today. His initiatives have become a national model for nonprofit local news, demonstrating how quality journalism can thrive in the digital age while serving community needs. His donation and overall championing of local, nonprofit news organizations allows continued investment in:

  • Award-winning investigative journalism
  • Increased community engagement
  • Young journalist development
  • Enhanced regional news coverage

Under the guidance of Deep South Today, these newsrooms employ innovative strategies to reach and engage diverse communities across the region:

  • Digital-first storytelling
  • In-depth coverage of state and local government
  • Collaborative content sharing
  • Community engagement focus

Key Achievements

Since its founding, Mississippi Today has earned national recognition for excellence in journalism and community impact:

  • Non-profit digital-first news organization
  • 2023 Pulitzer prize for Best Local Reporting
  • 2024 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award
  • Comprehensive statehouse coverage with dedicated reporting team
  • Partnerships with The New York Times and ProPublica

Journalism Institute: National Press Club logo “Mississippi Today is currently involved in a legal case to protect privileged documents used in producing a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation and named in an ensuing defamation case brought by the state’s former governor. The case has wide-ranging implications for press freedom in the United States, including journalist-source protections. The outlet won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize for its investigation into a $77 million welfare scandal that revealed how the state’s former governor, Phil Bryant, used his office to benefit his friends and family. Bryant then sued Mississippi Today and its CEO Mary Margaret White in July 2023, claiming that the series defamed him. The case is ongoing. Watch Mississippi Today Editor-in-Chief Adam Ganucheau accept the award at the Club.”