2016-11-14T13:25:45-06:00 2015-12-31 201941244 HORNE LLP 1020 HIGHLAND COLONY PKWY STE 400 RIDGELAND MS 39157 990 2015-01-01 472158741 MISSISSIPPI NEWS AND INFORMATION CORP MISS 6015334860 750 WOODLANDS PARKWAY SUITE 100 RIDGELAND MS 39157 MANDY M POPE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 6015334860 2016-11-14 1 AMY WILSON SMITH CPA P01612501 6013261000 2016-11-14 2015 2017-02-10 21:41:12Z X MISSISSIPPI TODAY MANDY M POPE 750 WOODLANDS PARKWAY SUITE 100 RIDGELAND MS 39157 2859190 0 X HTTP://MISSISSIPPITODAY.ORG X 2014 MS SEE SCHEDULE O 6 6 3 6 0 0 0 2858549 0 0 0 641 0 0 0 2859190 0 0 0 0 0 116420 0 0 7500 0 41221 0 157641 0 2701549 0 2730205 0 28656 0 2701549 X SEE SCHEDULE O 0 0 139686 THE YEAR 2015 WAS FOCUSED ON GETTING THE NECESSARY BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY, AND PERSONNEL INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MEET THE GOAL OF LAUNCHING MISSISSIPPI'S FIRST ONLINE NONPARTISAN NEWS WEBSITE BY THE END OF MARCH 2016 (WWW.MISSISSIPPITODAY.ORG). 139686 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 FL MS NY X X MANDY M POPE 6015334860 750 WOODLANDS PARKWAY SUITE 100 RIDGELAND MS 39157 ANDREW LACK DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JIM BARKSDALE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DONNA BARKSDALE DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE CHAIR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILL NORTON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHARLES OVERBY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 TOM PITTMAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MANDY POPE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 20.00 X 7083 0 0 FRED ANKLAM JR CO-CHIEF EDITORIAL OFFICER 40.00 X 52167 0 0 DENNIS MOORE CO-CHIEF EDITORIAL OFFICER 40.00 X 41167 0 0 100417 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2858549 2858549 641 641 2859190 0 0 641 111416 108583 2833 5004 4787 217 12180 4840 7340 7500 7500 9000 1500 7500 8048 8048 RECRUITING EXPENSES 2915 2915 WEBSITE HOSTING FEES 1001 1001 TELEPHONE 300 260 40 PAYROLL PROCESSING FEES 180 180 97 72 25 157641 139686 10455 7500 517431 2208549 4081 144 0 2730205 28656 0 28656 X 654417 2047132 0 2701549 0 2730205 2701549 0 X X 0 1 X 0 0 X 2858549 2858549 2858549 2858549 2572629 285920 641 641 2859190 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 2859190 0 2859190 0 2859190 157641 0 157641 0 157641 FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: MISSISSIPPI NEWS AND INFORMATION CORPORATION, OPERATING AS MISSISSIPPI TODAY, IS A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT DIGITAL NEWS AND INFORMATION RESOURCE THAT AGGRESIVELY AND OBJECTIVELY COVERS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, POVERTY AND RACE, AS WELL AS MISSISSIPPI SOCIAL CULTURE. THE STAFF WILL PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY REPORTING TO ACT AS A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG, SUPPORT THE FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE STATE. INCREASING CITIZEN AWARENESS, INCLUDING HOW GOVERNMENT ACTION AFFECTS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, MAY LEAD TO GREATER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. MISSISSIPPI TODAY WILL HELP CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF DISTINGUISHED JOURNALISTS WHO REFLECT THE STATE'S DIVERSITY BY RECRUITING EXCEPTIONAL GRADUATES OF JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND WORKING WITH CURRENT STUDENTS AT THE STATE'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO DEVELOP SKILLS THAT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR PRODUCTIVE CAREERS. FORM 990, PART I, LINE 6 - TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS TOTAL VOLUNTEERS IN 2015 REPRESENT THE SIX BOARD MEMBERS THAT DO NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: MISSISSIPPI NEWS AND INFORMATION CORPORATION, OPERATING AS MISSISSIPPI TODAY, IS A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT DIGITAL NEWS AND INFORMATION RESOURCE THAT AGGRESIVELY AND OBJECTIVELY COVERS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY ISSUES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, POVERTY AND RACE, AS WELL AS MISSISSIPPI SOCIAL CULTURE. THE STAFF WILL PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY REPORTING TO ACT AS A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG, SUPPORT THE FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE STATE. INCREASING CITIZEN AWARENESS, INCLUDING HOW GOVERNMENT ACTION AFFECTS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, MAY LEAD TO GREATER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. MISSISSIPPI TODAY WILL HELP CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF DISTINGUISHED JOURNALISTS WHO REFLECT THE STATE'S DIVERSITY BY RECRUITING EXCEPTIONAL GRADUATES OF JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND WORKING WITH CURRENT STUDENTS AT THE STATE'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO DEVELOP SKILLS THAT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR PRODUCTIVE CAREERS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 DONNA BARKSDALE, EXECUTIVE CHAIR, AND JIM BARKSDALE, DIRECTOR, HAVE A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP - HUSBAND AND WIFE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 THE COMPLETED FORM 990 AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY AND WERE REVIEWED AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 13, 2016. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY COVERS ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. EACH BOARD MEMBER IS SUPPLIED WITH A COPY OF THE POLICY EACH YEAR AND SIGNS AN ANNUAL STATEMENT WHICH AFFIRMS THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS RECEIVED A COPY OF THE POLICY, HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE POLICY, HAS COMPLIED WITH THE POLICY AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS CHARITABLE AND IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS FEDERAL TAX EXEMPTION IT MUST ENGAGE PRIMARILY IN ACTIVITIES WHICH ACCOMPLISH ONE OR MORE OF ITS TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A DUTY TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL CONFLICTS TO THE EXECUTIVE CHAIR AND THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS DECIDE IF A POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL CONFLICT EXISTS. IF APPLICABLE, IDENTIFIED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND APPROPRIATE RECUSALS ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE BOARD MINUTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE PROCESS FOR DETERMINING COMPENSATION FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES INCLUDES A REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. COMPARABILITY DATA USED IN THE REVIEW PROCESS IS OBTAINED THROUGH REVIEW OF COMPENSATION OF POSITIONS OF COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THE DECISIONS ARE DOCUMENTED IN COMMITTEE MEETING AND/OR BOARD MEETING MINUTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND TAX RETURNS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE (WWW.MISSISSIPPITODAY.ORG). GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE IN 2015. CURRENTLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT AND APPROVES THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.