Hurricane Katrina was deemed to be one of the worst disasters in American history. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cathartic role of letters to the editor (hereafter, “LTEs”) in local newspapers, specifically in a community directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures. Letters were selected from New Orleans’ major daily newspaper, The Times-Picayune. Textual analysis was used to analyze 198 LTEs published from Sept. 21, 2005, through Oct. 31, 2005.
Previous LTE research about catharsis and writing was used to guide the theoretical framework of this study. Emotion-fueled LTEs in this case study provided evidence of catharsis. LTEs packed with rich content, highlighting diverse topics, concerns and issues, were considered as evidence of more than mere venting. The study suggests that taking into account catharsis and writing in terms of psychological research, and clearly understanding the limitations that emerge from gate-keeping functions and editorial tactics, may help future researchers better understand how public forums can facilitate catharsis for individuals and communities after catastrophe.