Save New Orleans Public Housing

In the winter of 2007, CMJ launched a short-term communications project with the Praxis Project’s Katrina Information Network (KIN) to re-spark a national dialogue about racial injustice, corporate and government accountability, and the persistent need for a just recovery in the Gulf Coast.

Our communications support was designed to shape and place stories about regional to national legislative battles powered by grassroots organizing in the Gulf, and to move key audiences to take action. Between November 15 and December 15, CMJ conducted media planning for the project and provided direct strategy and PR support to the KIN steering committee and its allies.

Through an emergency media plan developed for the Coalition to Stop Demolitions, we created core messages and talking points based on content from KIN partners and allies—which were then refined and updated in response to campaign developments and opponents’ messages in coverage. We secured coverage in the blogosphere, sparking Internet debate with a viral effect. We developed an emergency press list with more than 100 contacts, and pitched to this to list with a newly developed and continually updated press kit. We gradually narrowed our list to focus on priority pitches to interested outlets including CNN, MSNBC, NBC, and ABC World News. We set up interviews for Coalition to Stop Demolitions sources with Public News Service, which lead to radio stories at the state and local levels as well a pick-up nationally through Clear Channel stations. Prior to our rapid response effort, only police and elected officials were sourced in stories about demolition protests, but we successfully mobilized to get grassroots spokespeople on CNN during day of a crucial hearing.

CMJ’s communications strategy and presswork earned media coverage that helped spark a national dialogue about saving public housing in New Orleans—and put the Housing Authority of New Orleans and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on the defensive. Coverage centered residents’ and advocates’ voices, rather than those of housing authority officials, and moved national legislators such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and John Edwards to action.

Check out how CMJ helped our partners change the story on this issue

• Our Coalition to Stop Demolitions press kit
• New York Times coverage
• “Save New Orleans Public Housing,” “Let the People of New Orleans Know You Haven’t Forgotten About Them,” Breaking: HANO Halts Demolition for Now,” and “One Last Push to Stop the Demolitions in New Orleans,” Feministing; cross-posted to Wiretap and RaceWire
• “New Orleans Activists Stop the Bulldozing of Their Homes,” Wiretap