Pass Christian and the Gazebo Gazette: A Gulf Community's Post-Katrina Triumph

by Lawrence N. Strout

Overview

When Hurricane Katrina leveled Pass Christian, a dedicated newspaper helped save the town. After the storm, many evacuees returned to a city they hardly recognized. Local and federal government officials scrambled to restore the infrastructure, including essential water and sewer services. Four months later, the town was still in dire need of basic communication when award-winning journalist Evelina Shmukler, alongside other volunteers, created the weekly Gazebo Gazette. Without funding, offices or a business plan to speak of, they delivered vital relief and safety information when residents had more questions than officials had answers. A godsend for the Pass, the Gazette continues today and was called a "New Town Crier" by Reader's Digest. Author and media expert Dr. Lawrence N. Strout chronicles the paper's journey and the town it served with fortitude and dedication in the face of tragedy and heartache.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626190931
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	01/26/2015
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Dr. Lawrence N. Strout is a tenured associate professor at Mississippi State University, Starkville. He earned his PhD in communication with an emphasis in media history from Florida State University, has published numerous scholarly works and is the author of "Covering McCarthyism: How the Christian Science Monitor Covered McCarthyism, 1950-1954." Before entering academia in 1990, he worked in commercial and public broadcasting for fourteen years. Dr. Strout lives with his wife, Penny Rodrique, in Pass Christian.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction 11

1 Pass Christian: The Calm Before the Storm 13

2 Hurricane Katrina: The Struggle for Survival 23

3 Gazeho Gazette: A Newspaper Is Born 51

4 Progress? The Best Laid Plans… 63

5 Recovery: Benchmarks 69

6 Transition: The Gazette Comes to a Crossroads 93

Conclusion: Pass Christian Today 99

Notes 115

Bibliography 119

About the Author 123