Mike Hoss ('84)

For Mike Hoss, the 10 p.m. News Anchor at WWL-TV in New Orleans, reporting the news met a new obstacle in late August 2005. When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast region, WWL was the only station to provide live, continuous coverage throughout the storm. Mike worked in shifts with two other anchors, to provide vital information to the residents of New Orleans and those who had evacuated to other parts of the country. Fearing for their safety, Mike and others at WWL evacuated to Baton Rouge, La., 55 miles northwest of New Orleans. Amidst the danger, Mike would drive into the city to continue coverage on Katrina. He explains, "We were giving the local people what was happening in their neighborhoods … on their streets. It was basic journalism, providing people with the best information you had at the time." Last year on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Mike traveled to the White House for an exclusive one-on-one interview with President Bush. Mike continues to tell the Hurricane Katrina story for the people of New Orleans.

"As news anchors in New Orleans right now, we feel we are making a difference by being here when many people have left for safer and higher ground. There is an amazing and sometimes sad story to tell here. We witnessed a part of history, and now we are telling the story of how a city rebuilds itself under very difficult and challenging conditions."