The XULA Investigative Stories Program, or ISP, brings together students and veteran journalists to examine some of our nation’s most critical issues and how they're playing out in the City of New Orleans. 

Students in the ISP's spring course, "Investigating New Orleans," learn how to conduct research and interviews. ISP apprentices work with veteran journalists and film crews on community-based projects. Our goal is not only to produce great stories, but to equip Xavier students with investigative skills they can use in their own careers, whether those careers are in medicine, science, law, business, the arts, or journalism.

Every year, the ISP works on a long-term investigative project. We approach each investigation like a puzzle, scrutinizing evidence and questioning official narratives, then working together as a team to find answers. Since we started in 2020, we've covered segregated schools, industrial disasters, race-based "garbage" science, and dangerous Black haircare products. We've produced print and multimedia stories, public events, and a museum exhibit. 

Our project teams include award-winning journalists, camera crews, and web designers. For every project we produce, participating students also receive a professional credit.

Students who excel in the spring course "Investigating New Orleans" can go on to work as paid apprentices on ISP projects. Apprentices participate in film shoots, pair up with veteran journalists for research and interviews, and attend regular story meetings with ISP director Helen Malmgren and The Lens managing editor Katy Reckdahl.

Previous apprentices have gone on to work not only in journalism, but also in science, medicine, criminal justice, community organizing, and military intelligence. Several have come back to help out the next group of apprentices, and we are always delighted to hear about their post-ISP adventures!