HOW THE MEDIA HANDLED COVERAGE AND SHAPED UNDERSTANDINGS OF TWO MASSIVE
AND ONGOING CATASTROPHES Along the Gulf Coast, history is often
referenced as pre-Katrina or post-Katrina. However, the natural disaster
that appalled the world in 2005 has been joined by another catastrophe,
this one manmade--the greatest environmental and maritime accident of
all time, the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill. In less than five years, the
Gulf Coast has experienced two colossal disasters, very different, yet
very similar. And these two equally complex crises have resulted in a
steep learning curve for all, but especially the journalists covering
these enduring stories. In Oil and Water, the authors explore the
media-fed experiences, the visuals and narratives associated with both
disasters. Katrina journalists have reluctantly had to transform into
oil spill journalists. The authors look at this process of growth from
the viewpoints not only of the journalists, but also of the public and
of the scientific community. Through a detailed analysis of the
journalists' content, the authors tackle significant questions. This
book assesses the quality of journalism and the effects that quality may
have on the public. The authors argue that regardless of the type of
journalism involved or the immensity of the events covered, successful
reportage still depends on the fundamentals of journalism and the
importance of following these tenets consistently in a crisis
atmosphere, especially when confronted with enduring crises that are
just years apart. ANDREA MILLER, Geismar, Louisiana, is associate dean
for undergraduate studies and administration at the Manship School of
Mass Communication at Louisiana State University. Her work has appeared
in many journals. SHEARON ROBERTS, New Orleans, Louisiana, is a native
of Trinidad and a Latin American studies instructor and doctoral
candidate at Tulane University. She contributed to Covering Disaster:
Lessons from Coverage of Katrina and Rita. VICTORIA LaPOE, Bowling
Green, Kentucky, is an assistant professor at Western Kentucky
University. She is the author of the book American-Indian Media: The
Past, the Present, and the Promise of Digital.
