Matter of Fact

Roy Howard Community Journalism Center
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Ever wonder how local news stories come to life? Matter of Fact goes beyond the headlines to show how community journalism works — and why it matters. Produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, which is supported by the Scripps Howard Foundation and The University of Southern Mississippi, each episode pulls back the curtain on storytelling — from first idea to final edit. Through candid conversations with reporters, editors and community members, we explore what it takes to tell stories that build trust, spark conversations and strengthen truth-based journalism.

  1. Apr 17

    Greene County Gets Back to Business

    In this episode of Matter of Fact, guest host Morgan Gill takes listeners behind RHCJC News’ reporting on efforts to revive chamber-style business support in Greene County. The episode explores why local leaders, business owners and community members say small businesses need stronger connections, better visibility and more consistent support in a rural county where local spending can have an outsized impact. Through reporting, soundbites and analysis, the episode looks at how Main Street Leakesville’s Economic Development Committee hopes to rebuild a network that helps businesses feel less isolated and more supported. It also examines the broader questions behind the effort: what rural economic development looks like in practice, what gaps still exist for small businesses and why local journalism matters in holding those promises accountable. Listeners will also hear from Senior Reporter Kristen Kaylor in our “Behind the Lens” segment about how the story came together in the field, followed by a “What Is True?” conversation with Walker Scott on how audiences and journalists can better evaluate claims about economic development and community growth.

  2. Apr 13

    Preserving the Past: Perry County Reopens Museum

    In this episode of Matter of Fact, we take a closer look at the reopening of the Perry County Museum in Runnelstown and what it means for a community working to preserve its history. More than 20 years after Hurricane Katrina disrupted the county’s original museum, artifacts once scattered across storage spaces and private homes are being brought back together in a new public space. This episode explores how local volunteers helped make that happen, why preserving local history matters and how the museum could become an important resource for education and community memory. Guest host Whitney Argenbright walks through the deeper story behind the reopening, from the loss of the original museum to the effort now underway to reconnect younger generations with Perry County’s past. The episode also features a behind-the-scenes conversation with junior reporter JC Roberts about the reporting process, followed by a What Is True? segment with Walker Scott on how journalists verify local history, oral tradition and community memory. This episode was adapted from RHCJC News reporting on the Perry County Museum and highlights the role local journalism plays in documenting the people, places and stories that shape a community.

  3. Apr 3

    Rebuilding local news in Lumberton

    In this episode of Matter of Fact, we examine how a grassroots effort in Lumberton, Mississippi, is working to rebuild local access to information by bringing back a print newspaper. Based on the RHCJC News story, “Grassroots effort brings print newspaper back to Lumberton,” this episode looks at why that effort matters in a community where many residents have struggled to find timely, consistent and accessible local news. The episode follows the evolution of The Lumberton Post from a Facebook group into a physical newspaper now distributed in local businesses. Along the way, it explores a larger question facing many small communities: What happens when important local information is scattered across social media, hard to find or missed entirely by the people who need it most? Through the voices of Leanna Dreher and John Maroney, listeners hear how the push for a print paper grew out of concerns about the digital divide, inconsistent access to community updates and the need for a more inclusive way to keep residents informed. You’ll also hear from RHCJC News reporter JC Roberts about his field reporting process and what this story revealed about the role of community journalism in places often overlooked by larger media systems. In our What Is True? segment, Media Literacy Coordinator Walker Scott breaks down what this story teaches us about news deserts, media literacy and the importance of building reliable local information networks that people can trust and use. This episode is not just about a newspaper. It is about access, participation and what it takes to keep a community connected.

  4. Mar 29

    Inside Kamp Joy’s 20-year mission

    On this episode of Matter of Fact, host Sami Jordan takes listeners to Perry County, where Kamp Joy is marking 20 years of helping children and families better understand and manage their emotions. The program began in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and has grown into a long-running community resource focused on emotional awareness, trauma support and life skills. This episode looks at how Kamp Joy works, who it serves and why programs like it matter in communities where children may be dealing with stress at home, at school or in their daily lives. Listeners will hear how founder Tina Brown built the program, how it expanded over time and how former participants say its impact has stretched across generations. The episode also includes a behind-the-reporting conversation with RHCJC News reporter Bibhas Pantha about covering a story centered on emotional health and trust, along with a What Is True? segment on why context and fact-based reporting matter when covering childhood trauma and early intervention programs.

  5. Mar 13

    Drawing the Lines: How Growth Influences School Boundaries

    Housing growth is reshaping communities across Mississippi’s Gulf Coast — and in Jackson County, that growth is beginning to affect local schools. In this episode of Matter of Fact, we take a closer look at how new housing developments in the St. Martin area are prompting the Jackson County School District to consider changes to school attendance zones. District leaders say the proposed rezoning is meant to prevent overcrowding as enrollment rises, but some residents are questioning whether the timing is right and whether schools have the resources to support the area’s growth. Host Hilawe Tibebe walks through the reporting behind the RHCJC News story “St. Martin housing growth sparks school rezoning in Jackson County.” You’ll hear from junior reporter JC Roberts about how development trends are influencing school planning — and why families in the St. Martin and Vancleave communities are paying close attention to what comes next. The episode also features our What Is True? fact-checking segment with media literacy coordinator Walker Scott, who explains how audiences can evaluate information about school rezoning, enrollment data and public policy decisions. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the difference between verified records, projections and personal perspectives when following local education issues. Together, the reporting and analysis show how growth, public planning and community voices intersect — and why local journalism plays a key role in helping residents understand decisions that affect their schools and neighborhoods.

  6. Mar 6

    Behind the bridge closure: Safety, records and public accountability

    When a bridge suddenly closes, the immediate concern is safety. But for reporters in Ocean Springs, the closure of the Davis Bayou Bridge raised another question: what information about infrastructure safety should the public be able to access? In this episode of Matter of Fact, we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s investigation into the bridge closure and the legal battle over access to inspection records. The reporting began after the bridge was shut down in March 2025, disrupting traffic and raising questions about how long structural problems may have existed and who knew about them. Listeners learn how the Center pursued answers by filing a public records request with the Mississippi Department of Transportation seeking inspection reports and maintenance records. When the request was denied under a federal safety-data exemption, the Center appealed the decision and later filed a complaint with the Mississippi Ethics Commission. The commission ultimately ruled that the records should be released under the Mississippi Public Records Act — a decision that arrived as lawmakers considered new legislation that could limit access to certain roadway safety documents. RHCJC reporter Justin Glowacki joins host Hilawe Tibebe for a Behind the Lens conversation about the investigation, including how the reporting evolved from a local infrastructure story into a broader examination of transparency and government accountability. Glowacki discusses the process of speaking with city, county and state officials, filing public records requests and reporting on legislation that could directly affect journalists’ ability to obtain information. At its core, this episode explores a fundamental question: when public safety is involved, how much information should the public be allowed to see? Listeners can read the full reporting on the Davis Bayou Bridge and the Center’s public records case at RHCJCNews.com.

  7. Feb 28

    Closing the Distance: Pearl River County’s Pet Initiative

    When a pet goes missing, every hour matters. In Pearl River County, local volunteers and law enforcement are working together to shorten the time between “lost” and “home.” In this episode of Matter of Fact, we go behind the reporting of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s story, “Pearl River County introduces microchip stations to reunite lost pets faster.” The episode explores how two new public microchip scanning stations — located at the Picayune and Poplarville police departments — are helping residents identify lost animals quickly and safely. Listeners hear from Haley Crow and Donna Lowe with the Pearl River County SPCA, who explain how the stations work, why microchipping increases reunion rates and how community collaboration made the initiative possible. They also discuss the shelter’s intake challenges — more than 3,000 animals in a single year — and how faster identification could reduce stress on both animals and volunteers. Senior student reporter Kristen Kaylor joins host Hilawe Tibebe for a Behind the Lens conversation about reporting on community-centered solutions, what surprised her during the process and why small, practical initiatives can have meaningful local impact. In our What Is True? segment, Media Literacy Coordinator Walker Scott breaks down common misconceptions about pet microchips — including the difference between microchips and GPS tracking — and explains how residents can verify how new technologies work, who manages the data and what privacy protections are in place. At its core, this episode asks: how can a simple piece of technology — about the size of a grain of rice — help bring a community closer together?

  8. Feb 27 ·  Bonus

    One Year of Reporting What Matters

    One year ago, the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center began reporting across ten counties in southeast Mississippi — with a mission to strengthen local journalism and counter misinformation through consistent, community-based reporting. Twelve months later, that startup vision has grown into a functioning newsroom powered by student journalists and community partnerships. In this episode of Matter of Fact, we step back from a single headline and reflect on the Center’s first year of reporting. Inspired by the article “One year of reporting what matters,” this episode explores what it took to launch a regional newsroom, what impact it has made and what comes next. Listeners hear from Director Nichole Cyprian, who explains the Center’s original benchmarks for success, how it measures trust and transparency and how student training is balanced with professional-level accountability reporting. She reflects on the goals set during launch and how those priorities are shaping year two. Engagement Team Lead Abria Turner shares what it was like to grow alongside the newsroom — from its earliest days to leading efforts that connect coverage directly with the community. She discusses how engagement is measured, what meaningful audience response looks like and how hands-on reporting reshaped her understanding of journalism’s role in southeast Mississippi. Senior videographer Nick Sharma joins the conversation to discuss the evolution of visual storytelling at the Center. He explains how documenting real community issues strengthened his technical skills and broadened his perspective beyond the classroom. The episode also looks back at key milestones: welcoming 47 students, producing more than 200 stories, partnering with more than 60 media organizations and launching initiatives like the Southeast Mississippi Planner and this very podcast. At its core, this episode asks: what does it mean to build trust — and a newsroom — from the ground up?

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About

Ever wonder how local news stories come to life? Matter of Fact goes beyond the headlines to show how community journalism works — and why it matters. Produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, which is supported by the Scripps Howard Foundation and The University of Southern Mississippi, each episode pulls back the curtain on storytelling — from first idea to final edit. Through candid conversations with reporters, editors and community members, we explore what it takes to tell stories that build trust, spark conversations and strengthen truth-based journalism.

Information

  • Creator
    Roy Howard Community Journalism Center
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Roy Howard Community Journalism Center
  • Show Website
    Matter of Fact