Gulf States Newsroom Receives Grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Gulf States Newsroom (GSN) announced it received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) in support of its in-depth, award-winning reporting on issues confronting people across the Gulf South. The newsroom is a collaboration among public media organizations in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, along with NPR, and is one of six regional newsrooms in the NPR network.

The WKKF grant will support ongoing reporting on challenges facing families in the region, including health care, economic opportunity, the effects of the criminal justice system on families and local communities, immigration, and the local impact of national policies.

Over the past five years, the Gulf States Newsroom has grown into an award-winning reporting team that works with stations to fill news deserts across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama" said Ryan Vasquez, the newsroom’s acting managing editor. "This grant will allow us to develop deeper connections through focused community reporting and investigative journalism, which will enable us to better serve people across our three states. Our newsroom is made up of talented and passionate journalists and it is fantastic to receive this support and endorsement for our work"

The Gulf States Newsroom launched in 2020 with the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and NPR. Through its partner stations – Mississippi Public Broadcasting in Jackson, MS, WWNO in New Orleans, WRKF in Baton Rouge, and WBHM in Birmingham – the Newsroom reaches 5.7 million people across the South. In many rural and underserved areas, public media is the only source of free local news and cultural programming. The Gulf States Newsroom delivers in-depth local and regional reporting that reaches residents and policymakers, helping to inform important decisions they make for themselves and their communities.

We believe in the power of local journalism to amplify community voices and drive change" said Rhea Williams-Bishop, director of Mississippi and New Orleans programs at WKKF. "The Gulf States Newsroom is filling critical gaps — telling stories that inform, connect and uplift families. We’re proud to support this vital work and the journalists leading it"

In May 2025, the Gulf States Newsroom won four regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association – bringing its total count to 23, including one national Murrow Award for investigative journalism.

NPR’s regional newsrooms coordinate coverage among multiple stations in a geographic region, sharing resources and boosting efficiency to deliver vital information to their communities. In addition to Gulf States, regional newsrooms service Appalachia + Mid-South, New England, the Midwest, California, Texas, and the newly added region of the Mountain West.

About the Gulf States Newsroom

The Gulf States Newsroom delivers in-depth local and regional reporting to help inform communities and enable them to thrive. In a part of the country where too many local news outlets have disappeared, the Gulf States Newsroom ensures that stories about health care, criminal justice, economic mobility, sports and culture and other important issues continue to be told. The partner stations plan coverage together, share resources and add reporting power in a story-rich region that has for too long gone under-covered.

The Gulf States Newsroom addresses the gaps in reporting across Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi by adding journalists to bolster coverage and creating vital connective tissue across the region.

For more information, visit wwno.org/gulf-states-newsroom

About NPR

NPR’s rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 16 international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), downloading the NPR App or asking Alexa to "Play NPR" Additionally, listeners on Alexa will also be able to tune in to NPR’s live coverage. Just tell Alexa to "ask NPR to play special coverage" The NPR mobile app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation 

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org