Anna Wolfe

Anna Wolfe is an American investigative journalist known for her work covering corruption in Mississippi's restitution centers and the welfare funds scandal. In 2023, Wolfe won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting.

Early life and education Wolfe was born in Washington state and grew up in Tacoma.

Career Wolfe is an investigative journalist with Mississippi Today. She and Michelle Liu won the February 2020 Sidney Award and the 2021 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting for their investigation, in conjunction with The Marshall Project, of Mississippi's restitution centers.

In 2023, Wolfe won a Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, a Livingston Award. She also won a second Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2023, for "The Backchannel" series, Center for Public Integrity – Investigative reporter (April 2015 – November 2015) Clarion Ledger – Watchdog reporter (August 2015 – August 2018) Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award (2020) National Press Foundation Poverty and Inequality Award (2020) Sidney Award – for reporting on Mississippi's debtor prisons (2020) public service in online journalism (2021) Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting (2021) John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Award (2021) Livingston Award for local reporting of "The Backchannel: Mississippi’s Welfare Scandal" (2023) White's comments implied that the former governor misused $77 million in welfare funds and accused him of funneling millions of those welfare dollars to family and friends, even though Bryant had not been charged with any crime.

Shortly after Bryant had given notice of his intent to sue, CEO White issued a public apology stating that she misspoke at a recent media conference, that her remarks were not appropriate, and that the former governor had not been charged with any crime. Nevertheless, Bryant proceeded with his civil action (Case: 45CI1:23-cv-00238-JM, Document # 9–2) which was filed in the circuit court of Madison County, Mississippi on July 26, 2023.

In July 2024, Mississippi Today requested that the Mississippi Supreme Court reverse a court order requiring the news outlet to turn over Wolfe's welfare scandal documents and the names of her confidential sources to a judge, who would determine if the evidence had relevance to Bryant's defamation case. Mississippi has not enacted shield laws that protect a reporter's privilege.

On April 4, 2025, a circuit court judge in Madison County, Mississippi dismissed Bryant's defamation lawsuit against Mississippi Today stating that Bryant "...had failed to plead any legally viable claims". Bryant appealed that decision to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which came under review in February 2026. In April 2026, the Mississippi Supreme Court revived Phil Bryant's defamation lawsuit against Mississippi Today and ruled that the lawsuit could proceed to trial.

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