It’s been an exciting year for Big Easy Magazine. Since our official launch in June, we’ve released seven monthly editions, conducted a Progressive Candidate Forum ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, provided all-night election coverage in November, expanded our content to cover breaking news of local and national importance, launched our merchandise store, and started two Facebook groups. Through it all, our readers have given us unwavering support – for which we are incredibly grateful. We look forward to bringing you entertaining, informational, and breaking news content throughout 2019 and beyond.
But before that, let’s take a look back at some of our top coverage from 2018.
We Broke It First: Kenner’s Nike Ban
Big Easy Magazine was the first local publication to publish the now-famous memo from Kenner’s Mayor Ben Zahn attempting to ban Nike purchases from all city recreation programs. The decision came shortly after Nike released their “Dream Crazy” ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, who is known for his kneeling protests against institutionalized racism during the National Anthem at NFL games.
https://youtu.be/Fq2CvmgoO7I
As the story gained national attention, Mayor Zahn later reversed course, rescinding the ban.
New Orleans Rounds Up French Quarter Transients
On November 29th, Big Easy Magazine received a tip that the New Orleans Police Department, with the help of several other local agencies, was conducting a mass arrest of transient homeless throughout the French Quarter. While many other local news outlets were covering Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s press conference on the city budget, we were letting people know of what was going on in the French Quarter.
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectNOLA/photos/a.419107719578/10156908456384579/
Charter Schools and Race in New Orleans
Of course we would be remiss if we didn’t include our coverage of the New Orleans Parish School Board’s recent decision to move to an all-charter school system. The decision has been widely contested and protested by parents, students, the NAACP, and Friends and Family of Incarcerated Children (FFLIC).
Body Positivity: Self Love in a Society of Self Loathing
This impactful photo series featured local New Orleans residents telling their personal stories of learning to love their bodies in a society that often tells us we’re never enough. The talented Sarah Rochis of Neutral Sound Studio took photographs of each of our subjects being candid, being themselves, being Uniquely New Orleans.
