HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Mississippi Power Foundation and The Clarion-Ledger have each awarded $5,000 grants to The University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism to support the After Katrina Newswire, an online journalism project that is focusing on the region’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

The grants will support the school’s efforts to expand the project and to attract contributions from journalism students at other universities and regional high schools.  The Web site can be viewed at http://www.usm.edu/afterkatrina/.

“There are so many Katrina stories to tell,” said Chris Campbell, director of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism.  “Students in our program have done some great work, and we expect that there are many young journalists at other schools who have stories to tell.  The grants will allow us to pay them a little for their time and expenses.”

The After Katrina Newswire was initially supported by a grant from the Hattiesburg American.  The newspaper’s president and publisher, Judith “Skippy” Haik, awarded the school a $5,000 grant in April of 2006.

 “We are thrilled to be a part of this project,” said Haik. “The destruction caused by Katrina is unprecedented and many stories are being missed. By giving these students an opportunity to expand their skills, we are also creating a repository of information to be used for many years.”

Haik encouraged Mississippi Power and The Clarion-Ledger to also support the project.

“Ms. Haik is a big supporter of the school, and she understands the value of the project,” said Campbell.

The After Katrina Newswire is a “convergence journalism” project, according to Campbell, and stories on the site include traditional newspaper-style features as well as audio and video essays and photographic slide shows.  “With new technology comes the opportunity to tell stories in new ways.  This generation of students is doing pioneer work and figuring out how to use digital media to improve journalism.”

Several members of the school’s faculty – David Bennett, Cindy Brown, Kim LeDuff, Pearl Stewart and Clarence Williams -- have assigned Katrina stories in journalism classes.  A doctoral student, Farid Mouzzai, is serving as the project’s designer and editor.

Interested student journalists can find information about contributing to the site at http://www.usm.edu/afterkatrina/aboutproject.html or by calling the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at 601.266.4258.

“We’re hoping to find additional funding so that we can continue to expand the project,” said Campbell.  “The recovery from Katrina is going to be going on for years, and it’s going to be important for journalists to continue to tell stories that will help people understand the impact that the hurricane had on the Gulf Coast.”

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.