After 10 Years of Investigating the Penn State Scandal, Here Is What the Case Taught Me About the Modern Media

Mediaite ^ | November 8, 2021 | John Ziegler

[TBP]

For most of the past decade, I have been, almost entirely on my own, deeply investigating the entire case, to the point where it is not an exaggeration to say I know more about it than anyone, including Sandusky himself. What I have found has been the most shocking, depressing, and excruciating experience of my already eventful career, because I eventually became, very much against my own self-interest, completely convinced that, believe it or not, the media got this story catastrophically wrong and that those convicted at Penn State, including Sandusky himself, should not have been.

This column is not about trying to convince anyone of this conclusion. I have co-hosted a podcast called, “With the Benefit of Hindsight,” which features at least 25 hours of often mind-blowing, raw and exclusive interviews with many of the primary figures in the case, including two of the administrators who went to jail (the podcast was inspired in part by author Malcom Gladwell writing a chapter in his best-selling book, “Talking to Strangers,” which largely focused on my work).

My purpose here is to document some of the important things I have learned about the news media throughout this ordeal. Here are those lessons, many of which have served me well in evaluating both the Trump and Covid media eras, and may be more significant and relevant than even the massive injustice which I am positive occurred in this Greek tragedy.

[LadyDoc]

One overlooked link: State College is in the Catholic diocese of Altoona, where an investigation discovered pedophilia merely discovered what we layfolks knew what was going on.

In the 1990s, the church newspaper bragged the priests in State College were pro gay rights, and the psychologist who screened men desiring to study for the priesthood, actually gave a talk saying that the schools there should promote gay rights propaganda.

So when Sandusky was reported for molesting a kid, well, no one saw this as a crime at that time. And in the 1980 and 1990s,a lot of psychiatrists pushed the idea sex with kids was good, and that a loving man boy relationship would help the kid accept who he was. Father Groeshel got kicked off of EWTN when he mentioned this, but it wasn't his opinion, but he was only quoting what was being written in medical and psychiatric journals until recently. A lot of the news reports on the layfolk fighting the gay friendly bishop in the early 2000s are no longer on line, but Coleus posted them on FR years ago,

[ml/nj]

bump

[cgbg]

the rush to settle was the overriding factor

I hate the mass media with a passion, but if the university is in a mad rush to settle without an investigation, that is on the university.

[samiam5]

+1

[dfwgator]

Also I maintain that a lot of people in the coaching pipeline knew that Sandusky was on a no hire list. With his background, colleges should have been knocking down his door to get him a head coaching gig.

[Carriage Hill]

Ping.

[LoveUSA]

I never understood why no one blamed or implicated Dottie Sandusky. One of the victims said he was screaming in the basement while she was in the house. No one labeled her an enabler or accomplice but Joe Paterno was vilified. And how about Sandusky’s adopted son? He would have known something.

[ml/nj]

The average payout per “Sandusky kid” was $3.2 million dollars

And shysters got $1 million or so of that.

ML/NJ

[allendale]

Just beginning to wonder if John Ziegler is peeking out of a dark closet.

[EEGator]

I don’t doubt that at all. When I was at UF in 2008-2013, there was a rumor that was considered highly known that Urban Meyer was having sex with coeds. I don’t think anyone is surprised anymore.

[lightman]

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

[JonPreston]

if the university is in a mad rush to settle without an investigation, that is on the university.

Never underestimate the s*htful judgement of liberal academia, especially one influenced by a $8 million dollar "investigation" by Louis Freeh, the failed, former FBI directer.

[JonPreston]

A local lawyer, Andrew Shubin, collected on most of the cases.

[Paladin2]

Whatta bout Mikey Mann [of the State Penn] and his suit against Mark Steyn?

[Paladin2]

Gay Valley....

[dfwgator]

My Spidey Sense is starting to tell me, there’s something with Mullen that’s about to blow up, with the players, and recruits abandoning ship right and left. Something’s out there.

[EEGator]

I agree. It seems like a loss of confidence.
What the true source is, maybe we’ll see.

[tired&retired]

Joe was such an ethical guy, he would bench his starting player for a big game if it were warranted.

[tired&retired]

Isn’t it ironic that Beaver Stadium is in Happy Valley.

[EEGator]

That’s so much better than holding a pedophile accountable.
It’s a game...