Behind The Lens episode 264 Part II: ‘Our Katrina narrative’

The Lens spent January talking to Lower 9th Ward residents to tell their stories, narratives a Super Bowl committee wanted to control.
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This week on Behind The Lens, as the Super Bowl approached, Governor Jeff Landry tasked a committee, dubbed “The Super Gras Subcommittee” with beautifying and prepping the city for the massive attention it would be receiving.

The subcommittee focused on the major tourist areas, but also did a drive through of the Lower 9th Ward, the area hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Though the majority-Black neighborhood has come a long way since then, it is, in many ways, the poster child of the inequitable recovery that followed Katrina. At the meeting last summer, one slide of a presentation said the visit to the Lower 9th was to “anticipate any features of the neighborhood which could be used by media to substantiate Katrina narrative.”

At The Lens, our entire team spent the better part of a month reporting on The Katrina Narrative.

Guests this week include Lens reporters Nick Chrastil, Delaney Dryfoos, La’Shance Perry, Mizani Ball, Marta Jewson, and managing editor Katy Reckdahl.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music Fading Prospects by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

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Carolyne Heldman

Carolyne Heldman has been in media for 35 years, most recently as Executive Director at an NPR member station in Colorado where she was responsible for new multi-platform content initiatives, strategic planning, research, branding, and non-traditional revenue generation. During her tenure she also created and launched four weekly news, public affairs and cultural affairs programs and monthly live Town Hall broadcasts. Heldman moved to New Orleans last summer with her husband and canine companion and they live happily in The Marigny.