Working to spin negative publicity after Katrina

After such PR crisises as hotel price gouging, slow response by the President and racial discrimination following Hurrican Katrina, work is being done to try and change the public's image of the largest natural diasaster in history. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) Support Foundation has hired Ketchum Public Affairs, and its subsidiary The Washington Group, to help communicate the "progress of recovery efforts in New Orleans, demonstrate accountability for funds already allocated and make clear the need for additional federal resources" (PR Week).

Established by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, and authorized by the Louisiana State Legislature, the LRA is responsible for overseeing all recovery activities in the state of Louisiana following hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the collapse of the New Orleans levee system – the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history (Kethcum.com). Ketchum will advise the LRA on all communications activities to execute a national public relations and public affairs campaign on behalf of the state of Louisiana. The Washington Group will develop and implement a government relations strategy in Washington. All funding for this initiative will come from private sources. No federal, state or local government funds will be spent on this program (Ketchum.com).