Media In Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson is the capital and most populous city of Mississippi. As the state’s largest city, Jackson is home to a vibrant media landscape including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and online outlets.

This guide will provide an overview of the major media organizations and outlets based in Jackson.

Television Stations

Jackson is home to several local television stations that produce local news, weather, and sports coverage focused on the Jackson metro area and wider Central Mississippi region.

WAPT (ABC)

WAPT is Jackson’s ABC network affiliate, broadcasting on channel 16. Owned by Hearst Television, WAPT produces several local news and informational programs including:

• Good Morning Mississippi – Weekday morning news show
• WAPT News at Midday – Weekday noon news broadcast
• WAPT News at 5 – Weeknight newscast at 5pm
• WAPT News at 6 – Weeknight newscast at 6pm
• WAPT News at 10 – Weeknight newscast at 10pm

WAPT also airs syndicated programming such as Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and ABC primetime shows. The station has been the market leader in Jackson for decades.

WLBT (NBC)

WLBT is the local NBC affiliate in Jackson, broadcasting on channel 3. Owned by Gray Television, WLBT produces the following local news programs:

• Today in Mississippi – Weekday morning show
• WLBT News Midday – Noon newscast on weekdays
• WLBT News at 5 – Weeknight newscast at 5pm
• WLBT News at 6 – Weeknight newscast at 6pm
• WLBT News at 10 – Nightly 10pm newscast

In addition to NBC network programming, WLBT also airs syndicated shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy!

WJTV (CBS)

WJTV is Jackson’s CBS station, airing on channel 12. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, WJTV broadcasts trusted CBS News programs as well as these Jackson-focused productions:

• WJTV 12 This Morning – Weekday morning newscast
• WJTV 12 News Midday – Weekday noon newscast
• WJTV 12 News at 6 – Nightly 6pm newscast
• WJTV 12 News at 10 – 10pm newscast every night

WJTV also provides local coverage of CBS’ NFL and NCAA basketball programming.

WDBD (Fox)

WDBD broadcasts Fox programming in Jackson on channel 40. Owned by Jackson Television, WDBD airs Fox News shows and syndicated programs like The Big Bang Theory. Local news productions include:

• Good Day Jackson – Morning show on weekdays
• Fox 40 News at 9 – Nightly primetime newscast

Mississippi Public Broadcasting

Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) operates 9 PBS stations throughout the state, including WMPN in Jackson. MPB produces local documentaries, education segments, and public affairs programs that highlight Mississippi history, culture, and issues. Popular MPB shows include Flagship, Mississippi Roads, Mississippi Moments, and América.

Radio Stations

Jackson is home to over 30 FM and AM radio stations offering music, news, sports, and talk radio programming. Here are some of the most popular stations:

WJMI – 99.7 FM

WJMI broadcasts a contemporary hip-hop and R&B format branded as “99 Jams.” On-air personalities include nationally syndicated hosts like The Breakfast Club. WJMI is owned by Alpha Media.

WYOY – 105.3 FM

WYOY, known as “Y105,” plays current pop and adult contemporary music. Owned by Alpha Media, Y105 is consistently one of the highest rated stations in Jackson.

WUSJ – 97.5 FM

WUSJ is a Mainstream Urban Adult Contemporary station branded as “US97.5.” Owned by iHeartMedia, US97.5 plays R&B, soul, and hip-hop. Popular shows include The Sweat Hotel and Keith Sweat’s R&B Countdown.

WJDX – 620 AM

WJDX is a news, talk, and sports radio station owned by iHeartMedia. Syndicated programs include The Sean Hannity Show and The Glenn Beck Program. WJDX is the flagship for Mississippi State athletics and Jackson Generals minor league baseball.

WMPR – 90.1 FM

WMPR is Jackson’s local NPR station, providing news and talk programming from NPR, APM, PRI, and other outlets. WMPR is operated by Jackson State University.

Popular programs include Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, Radiolab, On the Media, and 1A.

Newspapers

Despite declining print circulation nationwide, Jackson still boasts several print newspapers and numerous digital news outlets.

The Clarion-Ledger

The Clarion-Ledger is Mississippi’s largest newspaper, with a print circulation around 75,000. Focusing on statewide news, politics, business, and investigations, the Ledger has won numerous Pulitzer Prizes. The paper was founded in 1837 and is currently owned by Gannett.

Jackson Advocate

Founded in 1938, the Jackson Advocate is a historic African-American weekly newspaper covering the Black community in Mississippi. The Advocate offices also house the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

Jackson Free Press

The Jackson Free Press is an alternative biweekly newspaper founded in 2002. With a focus on arts, music, and progressive politics, the Free Press is distributed free throughout the Jackson metro area.

Mississippi Today

Mississippi Today is a non-profit digital news site launched in 2016 to provide statewide investigative and political reporting. With no print publication, Mississippi Today is available online at mississippitoday.org.

Magazines & Journals

Jackson magazines provide residents with lifestyle, arts, business, and cultural reporting. Here are some of the city’s notable publications:

Jackson Magazine

Jackson Magazine is a monthly lifestyle publication focused on entertainment, culture, food, and people in the metro area. Owned by Hour Media Group, it has a circulation around 7,000.

Mississippi Business Journal

The Mississippi Business Journal provides business news and resources for companies in the state. Published biweekly, the MBJ covers topics like economic development, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and more.

Mississippi Folklife

Mississippi Folklife is a journal published by the Mississippi Arts Commission focused on the state’s folklife, music traditions, handcrafts, and ethnic heritage. It is published annually.

Mississippi Sports Magazine

Mississippi Sports Magazine offers coverage of sports at all levels, from local high schools to Ole Miss and Mississippi State athletics. Published monthly, it has a circulation over 50,000.

Online News & Media

In addition to the websites of Jackson’s legacy newspapers and broadcast stations, several digital-only media outlets have emerged:

• JacksonJambalaya.com – Popular right-leaning local news blog run by journalist Kingfish.
• JacksonFreePress.com – Website of the alt-weekly Jackson Free Press newspaper.
• BuzzFeed.com/news/mississippi – BuzzFeed’s dedicated section for news about Mississippi.
• DeepSouthVoice.com – Left-leaning statewide news site based in Jackson.
• MississippiToday.org – Non-profit news focusing on politics and investigations.
• OnlyInYourState.com/mississippi – Mississippi travel, culture, and history site.

Conclusion

Despite its relatively small size, Jackson has a rich media landscape of television, radio, print, and digital outlets. Local broadcast stations provide community-focused news and programming.

Niched publications dive deep into politics, business, arts, and culture. And new media ventures expand coverage of Mississippi online.

Jackson’s media helps inform residents, hold leaders accountable, highlight local culture, and connect the state to the wider world.