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Behind The Lens

This category offers reflections, artist notes, and behind-the-scenes insights from our photographers and reporters’ perspectives—revealing the thought, emotion, and intention behind the images that define their work.

Behind The Lens episode 146: A parole board matter

An Angola prisoner says his parole was revoked illegally. An explainer on school COVID data. And a plan to give civilian municipal employees limited police powers.
by Carolyne Heldman October 15, 2021 Updated October 15, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 145: ‘It’s like we’re in a holding pattern’

Lens reporter Nicholas Chrastil and Al Jazeera Fault Lines producer Jeremy Young talk about the case of Brandon Jackson and the ongoing impacts of the state's former split jury law.
by Carolyne Heldman October 8, 2021 Updated October 8, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 144: Real subpoenas

A settlement in a suit over conditions on death row. And OPSB is asking to subpoena financial records in an ongoing legal dispute with Singleton Charter School.
by Carolyne Heldman October 1, 2021 Updated October 1, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 143: ‘For now, there’s nowhere to go’

by Charles Maldonado September 24, 2021 Updated September 29, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 142: ‘Due to storm activity in your area’

The power situation in New Orleans and beyond. Stories of evacuees. How jails, and people inside, have done after the storm. And when schools are coming back.
by Carolyne Heldman September 10, 2021 Updated September 10, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 141: ‘I’m looking forward to some ice cream’

Lens co-founder Karen Gadbois talks about her Ida week.
by Carolyne Heldman September 3, 2021 Updated September 3, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 140: ‘Ready to host’

New Orleans & Co. pulls its national tourism ad campaign. A car chase initiated by a state trooper leads to a crash in Lakeview. And a dramatic increase in cases and quarantines among city students and school staff.
by Carolyne Heldman August 20, 2021 Updated August 20, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 139: ‘We don’t have much good news today’

A spike of COVID cases in prisons. City schools report 116 cases, hundreds of quarantines. And a potential ban on some political contributions for City Council candidates.
by Carolyne Heldman August 13, 2021 Updated August 13, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 138: ‘It’s something we don’t have a specific copy of’

Live outdoor music in question as city delays action on zoning, noise. A rise in COVID cases in prisons leads to reopening of quarantine facility. And many New Orleans high school students will have to be vaccinated to play sports or join clubs.
by Carolyne Heldman August 6, 2021 Updated August 6, 2021

Behind The Lens episode 137: ‘Until the surge subsides’

NOLA Public Schools backs off closing Singleton. The City Council gets involved in the Phase III fight. And how schools and the courts are handling the COVID surge.
by Carolyne Heldman July 30, 2021 Updated July 31, 2021

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About The Lens

The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.

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The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.
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Our reporting has more urgency than ever.


For more than a decade, we have reported on issues as well as public policy meant to address the needs of residents. The Lens seeks to focus on the inherent inequality that has created a multi-tiered system. We, at The Lens seek to uncover, illuminate, inform and take part in a forward-looking community. Join us.

 
 

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