New Orleans: The First 300 Years is a joint venture between public television station WYES and Pelican Publishing Company with the support of the Historic New Orleans Collection. Twenty-two authors have contributed to 23 topics that explore the city over the last 300 years. “The book was inspired by The Past As Prelude a publication released in 1968 on the occasion of the city’s 250th anniversary and published by Pelican Publishing Company and Tulane University. Distinguished journalist Hodding Carter was the Editor. “Like that book, this publication will cover a range of topics,” says project editor Errol Laborde. “But it will also be visual containing great writing and images.” Book production supervision is by WYES Executive Producer Peggy Scott Laborde.

Errol Laborde, editor and publisher of Louisiana Life magazine, has won more than twenty-five New Orleans Press Club Awards for outstanding journalism since 1972. A producer and panelist on public televisionis Informed Sources, an award-winning program that explores local politics, Laborde also is the founding president and a current board member of the annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival.