On October 14, 1911, The Mississippian was published for the first time. Nearly 100 years later it has seen two world wars, a name change, the first integration of an African American student at a Public University, the cold war, and two Bush’s in office. And on June 17
th and 18
th editors, administrators, and faculty alike that have contributed to success of the paper will gather to
celebrate its' existence.
Will Norton, dean of Meek school of journalism and new media, said that The Daily Mississippian is an underrated resource for students.
“I don’t think most people understand how influential The Daily Mississippian has been on this campus.” Norton said. “Particularly before the James Meredith incident, there were a series of editors who spoke out for policies that would enable to avoid a lot of grief that it experienced with the James Meredith incident.
Norton said that there are countless situations in which the students here at Ole Miss were aware of the problems that the society faced, or that the university faced, and dealt with those in there news pages and the editorial pages.
“That resulted in helping the University and a lot of times it set the agenda for public discussion that led to improvement,” Norton said. “I think we are talking about a very unusual organization on the campus. A lot of people just look at it in terms of the mistakes that are made, instead of looking at the contribution that exists.”
Norton said that a number of outstanding people have come into our society after having worked at the Daily Mississippian.
One of those people is JB Clark. Clark, who graduated from the University in May 2010, worked at The DM from 2008 to 2010, spending a year as City Editor.
“It was a family for me,” Clark, who writes for the Desoto Times Tribune now, said. “It was fun, it was stressful, I have so many stories from my time at The DM. I learned so much, got connected with so many people. If you can work at The DM you can work anywhere.
The two day event will start on Friday with a walking history of the Daily Mississippian facilities starting at Farley Hall and the Overby Center for Southern Politics and Journalism, and then moving onto the S. Gale Denley Student Media Center at Bishop Hall.
Later that night guests are invited to a meet and greet with Chancellor Dan Jones and Provost Morris Stocks. Pictures and videos of past reunions and dm events will be on display, while guests are interviewed by the students.
The second day will begin early in the morning as the guests will be welcomed by co-chairs Elizabeth Shiver, who was DM editor-in-chief from 1953 to 1954, and Jim Autry, DM editor from 1954 to 1955. The rest of the morning will include a panel discussion that will be moderated by Charles Overby, DM Editor from 1967 to 1968, and special discussion about the Delta Project, by Bill Rose, which will be followed by lunch in the grove.
That night at dinner will be full of special speakers that include Chancellor Jones, with remarks by Ed Meek, whose name bestows the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, Patricia Thompson, director of the student media center. A keynote address will be given by William Winter, DM Editor in 1943 and the 58th Governor of Mississippi. Afterwards there will be entertainment provided by Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat and Tricia Walker, Director of Delta Music Institute.
