Mayor Cantrell turns to in-house media as scrutiny increases
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Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed a "historic agreement" Wednesday to redevelop Louis Armstrong Park and the municipal auditorium that's been vacant since Hurricane Katrina.
- But instead of holding a public event with much fanfare, Cantrell's administration released a YouTube video via her "City News" service.
Why it matters: The mayor's office has been increasing in-house marketing efforts amid a federal investigation and falling public approval rates.
- Cantrell has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
The big picture: The mayor signed a five-year agreement between the city and Save Our Soul Coalition to "support the redevelopment process" for the park and the auditorium.
- Her administration announced the deal in an after-hours press release.
- The signing finalized the agreement the City Council passed in June.
Zoom in: A city press release directed residents to a watch a video about the deal from "City News," a new initiative from the mayor's office.
- The city describes the project as a "dynamic news magazine dedicated to telling the stories of New Orleans and its people."
- The four "City News" videos posted on the city's YouTube channel feature the mayor and other officials talking about the Bayou Classic, Poydras Street, the Super Bowl and the municipal auditorium.
- "City News" also has Instagram and Facebook accounts.
What they're saying: "City News is just a normal extension of the Office of Communication" within the mayor's office, deputy press secretary Kourtney Williams told Axios on Thursday.
- She's a former WDSU reporter and is one of the faces of "City News."
- She didn't answer Axios' questions about the budget for "City News."
Flashback: Cantrell also launched a podcast called "NOLA Insight" in the spring.
- The two episodes so far have been videotaped panel conversations with the mayor, Percy "Master P" Miller and others.
- Cantrell's office did not respond to Axios' question about the budget for the podcast.
Between the lines: It's common for cities to have a robust social media presence, but these efforts are in addition to the official accounts.
- "It looks like they're trying to create a sort of ... state media sort of situation," Robert Collins, a professor of urban studies and public policy at Dillard University, told James Finn with The Times-Picayune.
- All the videos have been posted on the city's official YouTube account, which has comments turned off. Comments are allowed on Instagram and Facebook.
Yes, but: The mayor has recently been taking questions from reporters.
- For most of the year, she would immediately leave after a press conference and her staffers would field questions.
- But this week, she answered limited questions from reporters at a City Hall press conference about crime. She also talked with Axios at a Super Bowl press conference on Wednesday about the importance of tree-planting.
The bottom line: Cantrell is term-limited and leaves office in 2026.
- All eyes are on what the feds will do with their investigation and how the city will respond.
Of note: Cantrell's personal attorney, Eddie Castaing, declined to comment for this story.
Go deeper:
- Cantrell stays out of sight after second-line shootings
- Unofficial race for New Orleans' next mayor intensifies
Editor's note: The YouTube links to the "City News" videos were updated after the original videos became unavailable after publication.