Some well deserved praise for the local media of New Orleans
Before I talk about our media, I want to tell you about the moon this morning. I can't think of a more beautiful moon I have ever seen. I walked Bear dog before daylight and the skies were clearing from some heavy overnight rains. The full moon behind the clouds beautifully lit an ever-changing array of muted color. It was mesmerizing like a kaleidoscope and I stood staring transfixed at the beauty of it all. Then the clouds floated by and the full moon light cast its eerie glow on my predawn world. Had I been lying in bed, I would have missed it all, but I was there and it is another beautiful memory tucked away for me to savor whenever I choose to see it again.
Local New Orleans Media
In the past, I have certainly pointed out flaws about various media practices, so I thought it only fair to dole out praise where it is deserved.
After Katrina, some of the television and radio stations were knocked completely off of the air. Eventually, the ones who got up and running again, did so by moving their operations to other cities. One station was in Baton Rouge and another in Jackson, Mississippi. The local newspaper, the Times Picayune had help publishing a small print newspaper, but kept their online news flowing.
Eventually, all of the stations were back on the air, and they broadcast hurricane information 24 hours a day. I don't remember when regular programming returned, but is wasn't for at least a month after the storm. No one missed the other shows. Most people did not have electricity, cable, or satellite anyway.
In my case, I got power back in two weeks. However, my DSL was working at the house, so with generator power, I was able to get online. I took care of my banking, registering with FEMA, and watched television on the computer.
The radio stations were united and they called themselves, "The United New Orleans Broadcasters." This was a cooperative effort between all of the stations. No matter what frequency you were on AM or FM, you heard the same program. The personalities from the stations worked shifts two at a time. So there were interesting personality mixes. It was always informative and entertaining. This was an excellent example of cooperation between competitors joined to meet a common need. This is what would happen in a nuclear war and it felt at times like I was in the movie "Red Dawn."
It was very useful having the local stations streaming on the web. Today, WWL 870 AM is still streaming on the web.
These folks realized that New Orlenians and other people in the region were scattered to the four winds and would want local information. They get an "A+" in my book for getting their signal out. WDSU Channel 6, for instance was broadcasting in Houston, Jackson, Mississippi, Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans.
OK, so technically, these media sources stayed in business and got their signals out, but what about the content? They get an "A+" in that department too.
In this whole hurricane and aftermath, the local media has been the voice of reason. The national media has stayed on the sensational and majoring on the minor. Some of their reporting has been all about their ratings and not at all about the truth or understanding complex problems.
I have been proud of our local media. Norman Robinson the lead anchor for channel 6 has shown courage and integrity in his reporting. He asks questions to the point, without political correct tweaking. He is respectful, but thorough and does not give people free passes.
Our local and state politicians have shown poor leadership, but not all of them. The media has done well not to generalize, pile on, or focus on the blame game.
I know these media outlets are businesses. They depend on ratings and dollars from advertisers, but you wouldn't know that by watching them. They are engaged in community projects. To name a few; reuniting people with pets, building houses with Habitat for Humanity, and calling attention to people with especially pressing needs. They have been a place to call for information or just a place to call and vent frustration.
The bottom line here is that when we needed what a television station or radio station could do in this kind of crisis, they did it and they did it in a way that exceeded my expectations.
I don't usually use the word praise and media in the same sentence, but the local New Orleans media has earned it. Good job folks.
Until the next time
John Strain