Lloyd Gray

Executive Editor

Lloyd Gray has worked for Mississippi newspapers since he was 16 years old, when he was hired as a part-time sportswriter at The Meridian Star. He has been executive editor of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo since 1992.

After graduation from Millsaps College in 1976, he interned at The Washington Post and then became a reporter for the Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville. He joined The Sun Herald in Biloxi in 1977, where he worked for 12 years as a reporter, capitol correspondent, managing editor and editorial page editor. After a brief stint as a Mississippi assistant secretary of state, he became editor of his hometown paper, The Meridian Star, in 1990 before moving to Tupelo two years later. Gray is a past president of the Mississippi Press Association and a four-time winner of the state's top editorial writing award.

[MS 0201] - Part 1: Introduction and Contribution (9:15)

Lloyd Gray, executive editor, The NEMS Daily Journal, has worked at The Journal since 1992. Gray says The Journal “helps keep before the community the issues it needs to be dealing with.” And The Journal “can talk about issues when other people are reluctant to.”

[MS 0202] - Part 2: Ethics & Content (8:13)

Lloyd Gray, executive editor, The NEMS Daily Journal, says The Journal breaks the normal journalism mold. It encourages its reporters and editors to contribute their time “to be actively engaged in the community.” Gray says that shows “we want [the community] to get better” … and our news staff can “get to know it better” through this community engagement.

[MS 0203] - Part 3: Strategic Changes (7:57)

Lloyd Gray, executive editor, The NEMS Daily Journal, says we “see ourselves as a continual multi-media news operation … having a continuing publishing cycle.” And the emphasis now is local news: “Our front page is now 100 percent local,” says Gray.

[MS 0204] - Part 4: Adaptation & the Future (6:40)

Lloyd Gray, executive editor, The NEMS Daily Journal, says, “We strongly believe print has a future if we produce a product that people care about.” Gray also says The Journal’s newsroom staff is facing greater demands: “I’m 56 and I’ve never worked harder in my life, “ says Gray.

[MS 0205] - Part 5: Prospects & Preparation (3:11)

Lloyd Gray, executive editor, The NEMS Daily Journal, says he is always looking for job candidates with a well-rounded, liberal arts education. And, Gray says, “They need to prepare to be in the multi-media world … and they need to be comfortable with that.”