SPECIAL | She exposed a welfare fraud scandal, now she risks going to jail

In 2023, Mississippi Today reporter Anna Wolfe was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for reporting that exposed how former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant used his office to steer millions of dollars from a welfare fund to his family and friends, including former NFL quarterback Brett Favre. In response, the former governor sued her for defamation. Wolfe now risks jail time for refusing to reveal her sources for the story. Could this lawsuit be a warning to other reporters who might not be able to afford a good lawyer? Kelly McBride, Senior Vice President and Chair of Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Poynter Institute, a global non-profit focused on strengthening democracy through journalism, joins The Excerpt to discuss the impact of the case on local journalism.

Episode Transcript available here

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