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Roesgen Spread “Jena 6″ Myths
Patterico ^ | April 19, 2009

Posted on 04/19/2009 4:34:30 PM PDT by Kaslin

Susan Roesgen, the CNN reporter who mocked tea party attendees in Chicago, is the same reporter who spread myths about the racially charged “Jena 6″ case in Louisiana, in which six black teenagers were charged with attempted murder for the beating of a white student.

The case gained national prominence because of the racial issues involved, and Susan Roesgen was at the center of publicizing the controversy, and perpetuating several myths about it. Roesgen’s bio says that Roesgen

became the first national TV reporter to cover the tumultuous “Jena 6″ episode in that Louisiana town.

In a piece titled Media Myths About the Jena 6, local reporter Craig Franklin wrote a piece dispelling several myths about the case.

The media got most of the basics wrong. In fact, I have never before witnessed such a disgrace in professional journalism. Myths replaced facts, and journalists abdicated their solemn duty to investigate every claim because they were seduced by a powerfully appealing but false narrative of racial injustice.

Franklin says he knows this because he is “the only reporter who has covered these events from the very beginning.”

It turns out that Roesgen was instrumental in spreading some of these myths. Here is Roesgen’s first video report on the Jena 6 case:

Roesgen told her national audience:

Back in September, black students sat under this tree in the school courtyard, where traditionally only white students sit. The next day, three white students hung nooses from the tree and were suspended.

Local reporter Franklin says this is not true:

There has never been a “whites-only” tree at Jena High School. Students of all races sat underneath this tree.

Franklin adds that the hanging of the nooses was not racially motivated, and the students were not suspended:

An investigation by school officials, police, and an FBI agent revealed the true motivation behind the placing of two nooses in the tree the day after the assembly. According to the expulsion committee, the crudely constructed nooses were not aimed at black students. Instead, they were understood to be a prank by three white students aimed at their fellow white friends, members of the school rodeo team. . . . Another myth concerns their punishment, which was not a three-day suspension, but rather nine days at an alternative facility followed by two weeks of in-school suspension, Saturday detentions, attendance at Discipline Court, and evaluation by licensed mental-health professionals.

Just to show that not everything is black and white, Roesgen’s report ends with a sympathetic interview with the parents of the beaten white teenager. However, this nod to balance fails to make up for Roesgen’s inflammation of racial tensions based on inadequate research, and an incomplete understanding of what had really happened.

I’ll give Roesgen this: emphasizing the racial angle made it a more sensationalistic and interesting story. And isn’t that really all that matters?


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: cnn; jena6; liberalmedia; roesgen
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No wonder Fox News turned her down
1 posted on 04/19/2009 4:34:30 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

What a cunning stunt.


2 posted on 04/19/2009 4:36:07 PM PDT by webschooner
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To: webschooner

Agreed!

Though I would say it differently!


3 posted on 04/19/2009 4:38:17 PM PDT by Randy Larsen ( BTW, If I offend you! Please let me know, I may want to offend you again!)
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To: webschooner

Noting about a husband in her bio.


4 posted on 04/19/2009 4:38:26 PM PDT by raybbr (It's going to get a lot worse now that the anchor babies are voting!)
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To: Kaslin

Roesgen most likely was totally unfamiliar with “cowboy tradition” and knew only the racism taught to her by her parents as she was growing up.


5 posted on 04/19/2009 4:39:23 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: raybbr

... a testament to the innate intelligence of men.


6 posted on 04/19/2009 4:40:05 PM PDT by webschooner
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To: webschooner

I guess that CNN offered her “the price” that made her cross the line. ;-)

BPE


7 posted on 04/19/2009 4:42:23 PM PDT by Be_Politically_Erect (All Along The Watchtower.)
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To: Kaslin

After seeing that stunt she pulled the other night it doesn’t surprise me in the least!


8 posted on 04/19/2009 4:43:41 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: Kaslin
The media got most of the basics wrong. In fact, I have never before witnessed such a disgrace in professional journalism. Myths replaced facts, and journalists abdicated their solemn duty to investigate every claim because they were seduced by a powerfully appealing but false narrative of racial injustice leftwing propaganda
9 posted on 04/19/2009 4:44:13 PM PDT by GeronL (TYRANNY SENTINEL. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: Be_Politically_Erect

Chicken Noodle Network: “Come be a b!tch on TV for us, Susan.”

Obviously this was an offer the deranged woman just not refuse.


10 posted on 04/19/2009 4:44:27 PM PDT by webschooner
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To: Kaslin

Considering that the nooses were not racially-motivated, the punishment of the white students seems rather draconian. Probably reflects PC attitudes or hypersensitivity on the part of the school administrators.


11 posted on 04/19/2009 4:47:41 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: raybbr
according to her CNN bio, she has sure moved around for a young gal.
Must be a trouble maker after she's gotten to know the news room crew.

Disclaimer:
My opinion only

12 posted on 04/19/2009 4:51:04 PM PDT by ThreePuttinDude (o)(o)
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To: Kaslin

Either she has an IQ less than this keyboard or she is flat-out dishonest.

Since she works at CNN, probably both. (These are requirements to work there.)


13 posted on 04/19/2009 4:52:54 PM PDT by TBP
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To: Kaslin

I think she’s a radical Lesbian and that’s why she hates good and decent people. Besides that, she’s a rabid Communist America-hating tool.


14 posted on 04/19/2009 4:54:00 PM PDT by WashingtonSource
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To: Kaslin

Roesgen and CNN jumped the shark with this Tea Party coverage. Same shark Dan Rather jumped.


15 posted on 04/19/2009 4:55:25 PM PDT by Eddie01 (Telling it like it is since "revolver" was released)
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To: webschooner

Switch the s with the c and then the truth can be told.


16 posted on 04/19/2009 4:56:54 PM PDT by techno
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To: TBP

FYI:

CNN is a marketing firm with 24/7 access to a very powerful marketing channel. The DNC is their sole political client.

CNN and the greater MSM have absolutely nothing to do with the profession of journalism. Their staff and “reporters” are in actuality Ad Copy writers and Spokespersons for the Democrat Party and American Left.

Chef Tony, Ron Popeil and ShamWow guy are no different than the MSM talking heads with one exception. Tony, Ron and Sham are all honest about their profession.

Believe it. It is true.


17 posted on 04/19/2009 4:59:58 PM PDT by Eddie01 (Telling it like it is since "revolver" was released)
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To: techno

techno, you had the same thought as me-but your post was much more clever than mine would have been!


18 posted on 04/19/2009 5:15:16 PM PDT by Radagast the Fool ("Mexico-Beirut with tacos!"--Dr. Zoidberg)
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To: webschooner

Cunning stunt. I did a play on words and came up with something different. The new obalaws will get you in trouble.


19 posted on 04/19/2009 5:17:52 PM PDT by mirkwood
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To: GeronL

Reminding me of the lousy NYSlimes reporter who lied constantly about the Duke LaCross case.


20 posted on 04/19/2009 5:21:13 PM PDT by Carley (MOANING IN AMERIKA)
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