New Multimedia Site Chronicles Untold Katrina and Gulf Coast Stories

On January 8, 2008, Open Society Institute (OSI) announced the launch of a multimedia website documenting the social and economic toll of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. With numerous never-before-seen photos, articles, radio clips, and videos, the website calls for increased attention to the larger issues of race, poverty, and government neglect that were laid bare by the storms.

Katrina: An Unnatural Disaster (katrinamedia.org) chronicles the struggles and triumphs of Gulf Coast residents since the destruction more than two years ago. The site explores the issues that continue to prevent residents from recovering from the disaster and returning home. Katrinamedia.org examines life after the floods from a range of perspectives, focusing on historically neglected groups like the elderly, the incarcerated, and low-income and immigrant communities.

It features the work of OSI Katrina Media Fellows: award-winning print and radio journalists, photographers, filmmakers, and youth media organizations. "The tragedy that follows Katrina and the floods is far from over," says Larry Blumenfeld, an OSI Katrina Media Fellow. "Yet the news coverage has largely faded away, and awareness of these issues is, more than ever, necessary."

The site offers in-depth reporting on a range of issues including the threat to the musical heritage of New Orleans, the failure of the New Orleans justice system, and a photo essay exploring the impact of reconstruction efforts on the racial composition of the city. "Our goal is to spark a national debate around poverty and racism in America beyond the Katrina anniversaries," says Erlin Ibreck, director of grantmaking strategies at OSI. "The site is devoted exclusively to the aftermath of the hurricanes as documented by investigative reporters. Very few news outlets have the resources to do this."