If you drive through Marshall County, Mississippi, you’ll eventually see those familiar green-and-white newspaper racks. They’re sitting outside gas stations in Holly Springs or tucked near the courthouse square. Those papers belong to the Holly Springs South Reporter, a publication that has survived more history than most modern digital media companies could even imagine. It isn’t just a weekly print run; it’s basically the central nervous system for this part of the Deep South.
Local news is dying everywhere. We know this. But somehow, small-town papers like the South Reporter keep chugging along. Why? Because you can’t get the results of a local zoning board meeting or a high school football blowout from a national news feed. You need someone who actually lives on Gholson Avenue to write it.
The Long Road from 1865
The Holly Springs South Reporter didn't just appear out of nowhere. It has roots that stretch back to the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Specifically, 1865. Think about that for a second. This paper has covered everything from the yellow fever epidemic of 1878—which nearly wiped Holly Springs off the map—to the arrival of the massive multi-modal industrial parks that now dot the landscape near I-71.
It’s old. Really old.
Most people don't realize that "The South Reporter" as we know it today is actually a merger of two different legacy papers: The Holly Springs South and The Reporter. They joined forces in the late 1800s. Since then, it has been the primary record-keeper for Marshall County. If you’re looking for a birth announcement from 1920 or trying to find out who won a livestock competition in the 50s, the archives of this paper are your only real map.
Honestly, the survival of the paper is a bit of a miracle. While big city dailies are gutting their newsrooms, the Holly Springs South Reporter stays afloat because the community actually depends on it for legal notices and local election results. It’s functional. It’s essential.
Why Print Still Matters in Marshall County
You might think everyone just goes to Facebook for their news now. Some do. But Marshall County is a mix of rapidly growing industrial zones and deeply rural patches where high-speed internet is still a "maybe" for some households.
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Digital divide is real.
Because of that, the physical paper remains a staple. The South Reporter covers more than just the "big" news. It’s where you find the local police blotter, which, let's be real, is usually the most read section of any small-town paper. It’s where people look for obituary details to see when a neighbor's visitation is happening at a local funeral home like J.F. Brittenum & Son.
But it isn't just about the old guard.
The paper has had to evolve. Under the leadership of people like Barry Burleson, who served as editor for years, the publication leaned into sports. In a place where high school football is basically a religion, the Holly Springs South Reporter provides the kind of granular coverage you won't find on ESPN. They’re talking about the specific plays that won the game for the Holly Springs Hawks or the Potts Camp Cardinals.
Covering a Changing Economy
Holly Springs is changing. Fast. The town used to be defined mostly by its historic antebellum homes and its proximity to the Tennessee border. Now, it’s a logistics hub. With the CORE industrial park and massive warehouses for companies like Nike and Volvo nearby, the local economy is shifting.
The Holly Springs South Reporter has to balance two very different worlds:
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- The traditional, agricultural heritage of Marshall County.
- The booming, industrial future of the Memphis suburban sprawl.
When a new tax incentive is debated by the Board of Supervisors, the South Reporter is usually the only one in the room taking notes. They explain what a "Tax Increment Financing" (TIF) district actually means for a regular homeowner's property taxes. That’s the kind of unglamorous, "boring" journalism that keeps a democracy from falling apart at the local level.
Dealing with Modern Challenges
It hasn’t all been easy. Like every other paper, they’ve faced the skyrocketing cost of newsprint and the decline of traditional retail advertising. When the local hardware store or the family-owned pharmacy closes down, the paper loses a chunk of its soul and its budget.
They’ve adapted with a digital presence, sure. They have a website where you can see the latest headlines. But the paywall is there for a reason. Journalism costs money. You can’t pay a reporter in "likes" or "shares."
What’s interesting is how the community reacts when the paper misses something. In a town this size, if the South Reporter gets a detail wrong about a local festival or a high school graduation, the editors hear about it at the grocery store. There is a level of accountability there that simply doesn't exist in national media. You can't hide behind a corporate handle when you’re standing in the checkout line at Walmart.
The Role of History and Heritage
Holly Springs is famous for its "Pilgrimage," an annual tour of historic homes. For decades, the Holly Springs South Reporter has been the primary cheerleader and documenter of this event. They publish the special editions that tell the stories of the Montrose or the Walter Place estates.
But they also have to navigate the complex history of the South. Marshall County has a deep, often painful history regarding civil rights and segregation. A paper that has existed since 1865 has seen it all. Modern readers look to the paper to see how it reflects the diversity of today’s Holly Springs, which is a majority-Black city with a very different cultural landscape than it had a century ago.
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How to Get the Most Out of the South Reporter
If you’re a resident or just someone interested in Mississippi history, there are better ways to use this resource than just scrolling a social media feed.
Check the Legal Notices
This is where the real "meat" of local government is hidden. You’ll see notices for land sales, upcoming public hearings on zoning, and estate notices. If someone is planning to build a massive warehouse behind your house, this is where you’ll find out first.
The Archive Search
For genealogists, the Holly Springs South Reporter is a goldmine. Many people don't realize that local libraries often keep microfilm of these back issues. If you’re tracing your family back to the Reconstruction era in North Mississippi, these pages contain the names and stories that aren't in the official census records.
High School Sports Tracking
The paper is arguably the best source for tracking recruitment and stats for local athletes. If a kid from Byhalia or Holly Springs is getting scouted, the South Reporter usually has the backstory before the regional TV stations even pick it up.
Moving Forward in a Digital Age
The future of the Holly Springs South Reporter depends entirely on the "shop local" mentality applying to information. If people stop paying for the local paper, the local government operates in the dark. It’s that simple.
Local news is a utility. Like water. Like electricity.
You might not notice it every day, but you'd definitely notice if it was gone. Without it, there’s no one to ask the tough questions at the city council meeting or to celebrate the kid who made Eagle Scout. The South Reporter isn't just a business; it’s a record of life in one specific, quirky, historic corner of Mississippi.
Practical Steps for Engaging with Local News
- Subscribe to the Print or Digital Edition: The most direct way to ensure the paper survives is to pay for it. A yearly subscription usually costs less than a few weeks of fancy coffee.
- Submit Your News: Small papers rely on community input. If your church is having a bake sale or your kid won an award, send a photo and a brief write-up. This "hyper-local" content is what makes the paper unique.
- Read the Board of Supervisors Minutes: Don't just complain about your taxes or the potholes on your street. Read the reports in the paper to see how the money is actually being allocated.
- Support the Advertisers: Mention that you saw an ad in the South Reporter when you visit a local business. It proves to the business owner that their marketing spend is actually working.
- Use the Letters to the Editor: It’s one of the last places where you can have a public, documented debate about local issues that isn't just a screaming match in a Facebook comment section.
The Holly Springs South Reporter has lasted over 150 years by being exactly what its community needed. As long as people in Marshall County care about what's happening on their own street as much as what's happening in Washington D.C., the paper will have a reason to keep the presses running.