Lighting The Road To The Future Fabulous Motown Revue

Data Zone Page 4 “The People’s Paper” October 20 - October 26, 2012 47th Year Volume 23 www.ladatanews.com

Looking For News in

Page 2 Newsmaker Data Zone Justice Hangin’ in Served the Treme Page 7 Page 5 Page 2 October 20 - October 26, 2012 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com

The Search for News in New Orleans Citizens Respond to Local Daily Paper Printing Three Times a Week

Edvidge Wilkerson Charles Vaughn

newspaper . This was part of a reorganization strategy to how some locals perceive some of the new people By Edwin Buggage by Advance Publications, a New York based media and/or businesses as carpetbaggers coming in to a conglomerate that owns the Times Picayune . On Oc- City marring and disregarding its history, habits and New Orleans: A City of Traditions tober 1st of this year the paper ceased publishing a traditions for profit; and what will the impact be on New Orleans is a City of traditions and rituals, daily paper after 175 years; dealing the City yet an- the City? from red beans and rice on Monday, to the sounds of other deadly blow in a long list of casualties after of The Generation Gap and the Digital Divide brass bands and secondlines, of gumbo, beignets and . While there have been changes in the new century who dats . It is a City unlike any other marching to its When Advance first made their announcement on how people get information and with more people own syncopated beat . The Crescent City has a pace residents were in an uproar then to save the paper . An using computers and smartphones, there is still a of life that is rooted in many longstanding cultural offer was made by New Orleans Saints and Hornets digital divide that exists among those in underserved practices . After Hurricane Katrina, as a City stood in Owner Tom Benson to buy the paper and add to his communities . And as these changes are taking place its darkest days, some believed that it would never be growing media companies; as he is also the owner of much thought is not taken in how do people who are the same . And sadly many of these predictions have local TV station WVUE-Fox 8 . So as a City was on the not plugged in get their news, “A lot of older people come to fruition as a City is seeing a transformation brink of not having a daily newspaper, do not know how to use computers and are afraid of that for some is a troubling trend . of Baton Rouge came in and is now publishing a New technology and have no interest in learning how to A few weeks ago one of the city’s great institu- Orleans Edition of its paper . But for New Orleans will use it,” says Edvidge Wilkerson, a retired librarian . tions, the Times-Picayune stopped publishing a daily this suffice . Is the Advocate entering this market akin “When the owners of the paper were making this

Cover Story, Continued on next page.

DATA News Weekly P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors CEO/Publisher Edwin Buggage Cover Story ...... 2 Commentary . . . 6. . Glenn Jones Terry Jones VP Advertising Karen Carter Peterson & Marketing Art Direction & Production Edwin Buggage MainorMedia.com Editor Editorial Submissions Data Zone ...... 4 State & Local News . . 7 Calla Victoria Executive Assistant [email protected] June Hazeur Advertising Inquiries Accounting [email protected] Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story October 20 - October 26, 2012 Page 3

Cover Story, Continued from previous page.

decision I don’t think they took into ac- one in the New Orleans community . count that there were people, whether Think about it, we all know people who they are poor or older people .” She con- have no sense of logging-on or navigat- tinues by saying, “For a lot of people in ing the internet whether because of lack this City not having the Times-Picayune of interest or inaccessibility . In my opin- as a daily part of life in New Orleans is ion, the latter is of more concern given like the loss of a relative . It is part of the costs involved in obtaining internet the conversation that starts the day for service and scarcity of free-public inter- many New Orleanians . It is like a ritual net options .” in the City you read the paper with your There are those who have forecast the coffee in the morning and some of the end of print newspapers for a number of stories are conversation pieces but now years . And while large newspapers are it is gone .” cutting staff there have been a growth There is a generational divide of how in smaller publications . “I see that larg- the young and old get news . Young peo- er papers with their overhead have to ple have come to rely more and more on make cuts to stay afloat in a changing digital sources to keep up with what’s business environment, but for us and going on in the world, “I could say that I while ad revenues are down for all me- don’t read the newspaper in print, I usu- dia, we have an audience that is loyal to ally go online to different sources to find our brand,” says Terry Jones, Publisher news, so the Times-Picayune not pub- of Data News Weekly . “And moving for- lishing everyday does not affect us as Britt Martin Anisha Williams ward I understand that it is not about much,” says Britt Martin, a fourth year one or the other, I feel that print and Pharmacy Student at Xavier University . ever get the same sort of coverage, not pushing content online . Internet skills digital are necessary .” “However”, Jones to mention the more in-depth, multi- are quickly becoming second nature to continued, “since the Times Picayune is The Search for Untold Stories, page pieces that have become award youth, young adults and other working now publishing only three times a week; the Search for Credible winning stories . I have no doubt, New adults, but that can’t be said for every- ihe community newspapers that have News and Issue of Access Orleans news stations will boost efforts Cover Story, Continued on page 6. Anisha Williams is a New Orleans to cover local stories that provide more native and a TV News Producer that’s of a people/community element, but worked in several markets including time will always and forever be a factor New Orleans . She says that the lack of for broadcast mediums .” a daily newspaper has the potential of Continuing she says the web while it leading to some stories being untold or is good for its immediacy, in a City with not reaching a larger audience, “My ca- many elderly persons and the working reer as a TV News Producer spans near- poor issues of access to online content ly 7 years, and from the prospective of is a problem . “Not only am I concerned a Broadcast Journalist, there is no way with the stories that will be swept under some of the “smaller” stories that speck- the rug or completely ignored, but also led the pages of the Times Picayune will the outrageous emphasis surrounding

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Armstrong Family Services Presented... The Fabulous Motown Revue 2012 Photos by Terry Jones The Motown Revue 2012 featured Mo’ Feeling…Mo’ Sound…Mo’ Everything…The sounds of Motown included favorite hits by: The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Mary Wilson, The Temptations, and many other Motown favorites . Motown favorites were to be performed by your favorite New Orleans artists Sharon Martin, Kid Merv, James Andrews, Judy Spellman, Gina Brown, BRW, Caesar Elloie, ELS, Nadja Cojoe, DJ Capt . Charles and more . The event was hosted by Radio Hosts: Lloyd Dennis and Gerod Stevens . It was held at LACE The Grand Ballroom on Thursday, October 4th . The events was attended by many supporters of this yearly fundraiser and Data News Weekly was there!!!

Paid for by concerned citizens

www.ladatanews.com Data Zone October 20 - October 26, 2012 Page 5

Jazzy Sunday at Spice Photos by Terry Jones

Spice held its first weekly Jazzy Sunday set featuring Michael Ward and his son Shaun, Kermit Ruffins and other local artist also took to the stage . It was an awesome set and Data was there!!!

Hangin’ in the Treme Photos by Terry Jones It was all good times at the Annual St Peter Claver Jazz Extravaganza last week . This year’s event was themed “Hanging in the Treme” and Data was there . Page 6 October 20 - October 26, 2012 Commentary www.ladatanews.com

Louisiana Is The Canary In Mitt Romney’s Medicaid Coal Mine

of a much smaller Medicaid cut and hospice care . The cuts are only our most vulnerable seniors, Republican leaders do not show wreaking havoc across Louisiana forcing patients to travel long mothers and children . With a dis- any awareness of the dramatically now . distances to get essential care mantled public charity system, harsh impact of their policies on As a high poverty state, Loui- like cancer treatment, separating where will these individuals ob- the lives of those who need these siana has historically had one of families from mental health pa- tain medical treatment? services . Doing it “on your own,” the most favorable federal/state tients, and destabilizing the local Cuts to LSU Hospitals and be- as Republicans often counsel, is Medicaid funding ratios in the economies where these job losses havioral health services will not not a realistic option, but rather country . Until this year, the fed- are occurring . These cuts are also be contained to the public sector a deadly alternative for our needi- Karen Carter Peterson eral government paid about 70% destabilizing our medical schools either . They will ripple through- est . Data News Contributor of the $7 Billion cost of Louisiana for doctors, nurses and other out the private health care sec- Any discussion of health care Medicaid . healthcare professionals . tor as well, as uninsured patients that focuses solely on cost misses That changed in July when Sen- All of this for an 11% cut . Rom- continue to seek treatment else- the point . This is not just about ator sat on a critical neycaid in Louisiana would mean where . dollars and cents; it’s literally In the first presidential debate, conference committee and gave another 30% cut from where we Republicans talk about the about life and death . It’s not about Mitt Romney’s plan to remove his consent to a cut $650 million, are now - with the cuts and the im- numbers because those are ster- left and right; it’s about moral the federal government as a part- combine that with our state match pacts that I just described . ile and emotionless . We Demo- rights and wrongs . ner in Medicaid was briefly men- and it amounts to an 11% cut in the Republicans like Governor crats will not let them forget that Romneycaid spells disaster for tioned . For simplicity’s sake, let’s $7 .7 Billion or $860 Million . Romney and our own Governor behind every penny of Medicaid health care, and the proof is un- call this Romneycaid . That 11% cut is forcing mas- Jindal have an obsession with dol- funding provided is a Louisiana folding before our eyes right here Romneycaid would be a ca- sive job losses and service cuts at lars but a blind spot for people . citizen who depends on a Louisi- in Louisiana . tastrophe for Louisiana . How do LSU Hospitals, in state behavioral Medicaid is the health safety net ana health care provider to give (Karen Carter Peterson is a we know this? Because we are health hospitals, nursing home in this country . With the severe them the essential care they need Louisiana State Senator from New witnessing the devastating effect services, care for the disabled, restrictions we have on eligibility to stay alive . Orleans and Chairwoman of the in Louisiana, it provides care for Governor Romney and current Louisiana Democratic Party .)

Cover Story/ Continued from page 3.

always been a staple in their re- inevitable . Whether it is the Times- ing we must ask ourselves how spective communities, now more Picayune not printing a paper every important are traditions, institu- than ever we will serve a greater day, restaurants closing, neighbor- tions and cultural practices? So importance as a source of infor- hoods changing or the educational as a City mourns the loss of the mation for our citizens .” system, and right now I can’t say Times-Picayune conversely, as I whether it is for better or worse, write this the City is celebrating The Search for News and only time will tell .” the 200th Anniversary of Treme’ the New… New Orleans It’s been only a few weeks since and the contribution this neigh- During the time of the announce- the T-P is publishing only three borhood not only has made to the ment of the Times-Picayune going days a week and while citizens of City but the world . Shining a star down to three days of publishing the City are still getting use to a on what it is that makes this City in print many were worried about new paper in town, the world of such a special place and an envi- how what would happen to a City information and how people get it able cultural jewel that continues without a daily newspaper, but the is rapidly changing . In the future to shine despite its challenges . It Baton Rouge based Advocate have starting the day getting up in the is in these times as a City comes come in and is now trying to fill morning to pick up the paper and out of the ashes of devastation the void . Charles Vaughn is a Vi- get your morning coffee may be as it rebuilds itself, that it is time sual Artist and Event Emcee who a distant memory . We are already to work harder to keep its tradi- served as one of the hosts on one seeing glimpses of this new real- tions and institutions alive; and of the Essence Fest Superlounge ity among our young, who looks as it builds anew that foundation stages in 2012 . He returned to New at their phone or computer as of what makes the City special Orleans after living in Atlanta for 5 their gateway to information . And is not forgotten . And realize that years and since leaving and his sub- as we move into this new frontier, it is important for a City to retain sequent return many of his views we must ask ourselves because of its identity and culture, and to of his native City have changed, “I this convenience are we becom- preserve its history . It is neces- looked at the Advocate and don’t ing a more informed and enlight- sary to have a place where these know whether I will be reading it ened society? Are greater win- stories can be told and published, or not, but I think what is the big- dows of understanding emerging so it is essential that New Orleans ger thing for me is that when I and we are closer to solving the have a continuation of local media came back I realized that the City problems that plague our City and chronicling its stories for future would not be the same City I left the family of humanity? generations . in 2005 and that change would be And as the world is chang- www.ladatanews.com State & Local News October 20 - October 26, 2012 Page 7 DATA CLASSIFIED Louisiana Supreme Court Decision Call 504-821-7421 to place your classified ad. Affirms the Rightful Status of Justice Bernette Johnson Mailboxes by Mark

You pay for the bricks or maybe you have bricks already. You provide Now that the state Supreme Morial was chair of the plain- the mailbox. Court has affirmed Justice Ber- tiffs committee in Chisholm v . I will provide the cement, wood, nette Johnson’s right to take her Edwards, which was settled in mortar, nails etc. You choose or create the design. Prices vary place as Chief Justice, the court 1992 with the creation of a Su- according to the design. can move forward in a spirit of co- preme Court district to allow Contact: Mark (504) 723‐7318 operation and unity, National Ur- a fair opportunity for African ban League President and CEO American representation . The Marc Morial said today . Justice Department of then- $$$ $$$ $$$ “I’m relieved that the matter President George H .W . Bush AVON Do you need has finally been resolved in ac- signed off on the arrange- money? cordance with federal law,” Mori- ment which gave that seat the The company for women Can you use al said . “I have always maintained full rights of a Supreme Court some extra that Justice Johnson’s status has Judgeship . cash? Try Avon!!! Avon is easy to never been in question, and that Morial also was a member sell, no experience necessary. any attempt to deny her was an of the State Senate team that It cost only $10.00 to start. You ill-advised attempt to undermine negotiated the settlement with can become your own boss or both the consent decree which then-Attorney General Richard just earn extra money. Whether created her seat and the Voting Ieyoub and members of the Su- you are interested in purchasing Rights Act . The Supreme Court’s preme Court . Additionally, Mo- Avon products or becoming an ruling can now usher in a bright rial co-sponsored the legislation Avon Representa�ve yourself, I new chapter in the history of that effectuated the terms of the can assist you. Louisiana .” settlement . Call June ‐ 504‐606‐1362 I will explain everything and help you to get started.

More Food! Less Miles! Saturday October 20th This space

The Lower Ninth Ward Food corner” with books and fun activities . can be yours Access Coalition Presents A Other contributors include Second Grocery Store For-A-Day Harvest, New Orleans Food and Farm Network, Tulane Prevention Research In association with National Food Center, A Community Voice, Tulane Day, the Lower Ninth Ward Food Access Medical Center, American Cancer So- Coalition is hosting a Grocery Store For- ciety, and more . for only $80 A-Day event in the Lower 9th Ward . The With this event, the Coalition aims Grocery Store For-A-Day will provide a to draw attention to the Lower 9th unique opportunity for people to “make Ward’s “food desert” status and the groceries” in the Lower 9thWard, which Coalition’s community efforts, while currently has no grocery store and is encouraging more people in the com- considered a “food desert .” The event munity to join, and to raise funds for Call Now! expects to draw 500 people from all over the Coalition’s first project . By bring- the city of New Orleans to support the ing people together for the grocery Coalition’s efforts to get better food ac- store experience, food, fun and dia- cess in the neighborhood . The all-day logue, we will be able to spotlight the event will also include a kids’ breakfast need in this segment of New Orleans (starting at 8am), educational work- - a city known as a food capital in this 504-821-7421 shops, food vendors, health screen- country, yet many residents do not ings/information, and entertainment . have access to fresh, affordable food . More Food! Less Miles! Harvey Reed of the LA Association of What is National Food Day? Saturday, October 20, 2012 Cooperatives and Lori Burge of NOLA National Food Day (foodday .org) 10am-5pm Food Coop will co-present a workshop is a national grassroots mobilization on “What’s A Food Coop?” Grow Dat aimed at promoting healthy, sustain- All Souls Church parking lot Youth Farm teens will give cooking able, affordable and just food systems 5500 St. Claude Avenue @ Caffin demonstrations and the New Orleans in America . Public Library will set up a “children’s There isn’t an app for this.

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