Joshua Hodge to present at RHCJC Media Mentors

Abria Turner • July 9, 2026

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Joshua Hodge, creator of the YouTube channel Hattiesburg Civil Discourse, will discuss how everyday citizens can use public records and government transparency tools to hold public officials accountable during the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s Media Mentors program on July 10. The session is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Intermezzo at Marsh Hall at The University of Southern Mississippi.

A man wears a white collared button-down shirt and a tie while standing outdoors in front of green shrubbery. — Joshua Hodge, creator of the YouTube channel Hattiesburg Civil Discourse, will present during the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s Media Mentors program on July 10 at The University of Southern Mississippi. (Joshua Hodge)

Hodge will present “Curiosity as a Public Service: How One Citizen Uses Transparency Tools to Hold Power Accountable,” sharing how he taught himself to file open records requests, follow Mississippi Ethics Commission proceedings, and use digital platforms to keep his community informed. The session highlights how First Amendment protections and transparency laws enable citizens to hold public officials accountable.

The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center hosts Media Mentors monthly to connect students with media professionals and expand their professional networks. The program introduces students to a wide range of careers within the media industry through guest speakers who share insights into their career paths, discuss the skills needed in today’s media landscape and engage with attendees through an interactive Q&A session.

Each session is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged at rhcjcnews.com/mm.

For more information about Media Mentors, visit rhcjcnews.com or contact Abria Turner at [email protected].

About the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center 

The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center works to strengthen local journalism in southeast Mississippi by producing people-centered, issue-focused reporting, offering hands-on training for student journalists, and building partnerships with regional media organizations. The center also works to combat misinformation and disinformation through community training and partnerships.

Established in 2025, the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center is based at The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Media and Communication and is supported by a grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation. For more information, visit rhcjcnews.com.