Katrina Anniversary Coverage and New Orleans Residents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v32i1.23Abstract
This study surveyed New Orleans-area residents to determine their responses to local and national news coverage of Hurricane Katrina 10-year anniversary coverage. This study examined whether anniversaries as a type of routine news event corresponds to a form of re-lived trauma, and brings into question responsible and ethical journalism. The survey found that a majority of New Orleans area viewers sampled were exposed to Katrina anniversary coverage whether they deliberately chose to tune in or not. Additionally, New Orleans area residents sampled expressed negative reactions to the anniversary coverage that reflected continued signs of trauma from the event 10 years later. Negative reaction to coverage was higher for audiences who looked at national news sources compared to local ones. Locals also responded positively to coverage that demonstrated the strength and resilience of victims of the disaster, as well as coverage that featured the city’s cultural and historical traditions.References
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