Why does the media insist that a cold-blooded murderer....always be referred to as a “journalist”?

Louisiana-Legal ^ | January 11th, 2005 | LA-Legal

[ChildOfThe60s]

Why does the media insist that a cold-blooded murderer who should have been executed decades ago always be referred to as a “journalist”?

You will find no references to Wilbert Rideau that do not use the term as almost part of his name: “Journalist Wilbert Rideau”, for example.

The truth is still that Rideau robbed a bank, kidnapped three tellers, and cold-bloodedly murdered one as she begged for her life. He tried to kill the others, but they survived. Only by a fluke of legal luck was he not executed back when the crime happened in 1961.

Now, the defense strategy is not to get him off, but to try and get him convicted of manslaughter which would be a free ticket out. Manslaughter for slitting the throat of a young woman begging for her life. Such is the life of a journalist.

[ChildOfThe60s]

You can read one of the newpaper articles about his trial & release:

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1105860492107000.xml

or, if you really want to be gagged, google: Journalist Wilbert Rideau.

The scumbag is a hero to these bleeding heart pukes.

also a very sad commentary on our society and the race card:

" Bryant portrayed the killing as cold-blooded murder, the violent conclusion to a bank robbery in which Rideau kidnapped three employees, took them to a remote gravel road, lined them up and shot them.

Bank manager Jay Hickman escaped by plunging himself neck-deep in a bayou. Teller Dora McCain played dead. But Ferguson made the mistake of getting up and begging for her life, Bryant said, and Rideau murdered her. "

"The case has divided Calcasieu Parish along racial lines for decades. Most of the white community has fought against leniency for Rideau, while most of the black community has advocated for his release."

[pipecorp]

or senator?

[sure_fine]

Why does the media insist that a cold-blooded murderer who should have been executed decades ago always be referred to as a “journalist”?

why not, good association

[BenLurkin]

From about.com:

January 16, 2005
Wilbert Rideau Released from Prison
Wilbert Rideau, who become famous as the editor of the prison magazine The Angolite, has been set free from Louisiana State Prison after 44 years when a jury found him guilty of manslaughter, instead of murder, in his fourth trial for the 1961 death of bank teller Julia Ferguson.

Rideau was tried four times for the death of Ferguson, who he stabbed to death after a botched bank robbery, and three times he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to the death penalty.

In his fourth trial, Rideau's defense sought a manslaughter verdict, which allowed him to be released for time already served. Rideau's attorney argued that racism played a role in Rideau's earlier convictions.

"You have to understand that time, and then it comes together," Julian Murray told the jury. "You think they would hesitate to exaggerate the facts of the case, to get the result they wanted?"

Murray said Ferguson's stabbing was "a terrible act, a criminal act, one for which he deserves great punishment, but not one for which he deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life," Murray said. "He did a terrible thing, but it wasn't murder."

Prosecutors attacked Rideau's contention that he acted in confusion when he killed Ferguson, saying the crime was deliberate and coldly executed as she begged for her life.

"I thought the most interesting part of his entire story was, `I didn't murder her, I killed her,'" Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Rick Bryant said in his closing argument, but seven whites and five blacks deliberated six hours before reaching an unanimous decision for manslaughter.

[Drango]

Mumia Abu Jamal AKA "Wesley Cook" the convicted cop killer and darling of the left is a "journalist".

FRY MUMIA

[R. Scott]

He was convicted of murder, but could this be why he is referred to as a journalist? I’ve never considered a sterling character as being necessary to be a journalist. In fact, it is missing with many of today’s journalists.
1999 "It's A Man's World" (invited review of lyrics to show "Marie Christine," a retelling of the Medea story) Lincoln Center Theater Review, Fall 1999, Issue Number 23.
1998 The Farm: Angola, USA, co-director. Nominated for an Academy Award for best full-length documentary; winner of Sundance Grand Jury Prize - Documentary.
1996 Final Judgment: The execution of Antonio James, Discovery Channel, story by Wilbert Rideau, received the Thurgood Marshall Justice Award and a CINE Golden Eagle Award.
1994-95 Special correspondent for National Public Radio program "Fresh Air."
1994 Liguorian magazine, cover photo and inside photos of Sister Helen Prejean (February issue)
1994 "In for Life," a short documentary created and reported for ABC News' Day One (March 14). Received a CINE Golden Eagle Award.
1994 "Why Prisons Don't Work," invited essay, Time Magazine (March 21).
1993 Native Tongues, a play, included a performed monologue of Rideau's account of Oliver Stone's visit to Angola during the filming of JFK (True Brew Theatre, New Orleans; Tulane U. Center Stage).
1993 "People Don't Want Solutions," interview, Time (August 23).
1993 Photography published: Random House (Dead Man Walking); New York Times Magazine; Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
1992 Life Sentences: Rage and Survival Behind Bars (Times Books), co-editor.
1991 The Wall Is Strong: Corrections in Louisiana (Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana), co-editor.
1990 "Tossing Away the Keys," co-produced, co-wrote, and narrated NPR radio documentary, which won a 1991 Livingston Award for co-producer Dave Isay.
1987 Photography published, Scholastic,
February 9. 1976 - present The Angolite, seven-time finalist for National Magazine Award; numerous awards from the American Bar Association. Editor/writer/photographer.
1976 "Veterans Incarcerated," Penthouse Magazine (April).
1974-75 "The Jungle," weekly column for a chain of black-audience newspapers in Louisiana and Mississippi.

[w6ai5q37b]

Mumia abu-Jamal who killed Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, is also considered by the loonies to be a "journalist."

They say "free Mumia" I say "fry Mumia."

[Drango]

Beat you to it, see #5 :-)

[PistolPaknMama]

while most of the black community has advocated for his release."

Is Murderer Rideau black or white? Were his victims white or black?

Regardless of race, I can't imagine anyone defending someone like this simply because of his race.

[Mark was here]

Regardless of race, I can't imagine anyone defending someone like this simply because of his race.

I can. There are people who believe O.J. is innocent.

[jec41]

Please bring back the death penalty with the provision that it be carried out no later than 30 days after conviction. I am tired paying taxes to house the criminal and the some idiot that was not even around getting them in 20-40 years. In the case of murder juries should be advised that conviction is the death penalty and if not he goes back in society. I don't want to pay his room and board because someone is aganist the death penalty. After they have enought murders set loose in their neighborhood they might change their mind.

[PistolPaknMama]

I can. There are people who believe O.J. is innocent.

Oh right. Thanks for reminding me. Too bad I can't edit my previous post with a /saracasm tag. :-)

I was being halfway facetious but it is still unbelievable, and disgusting.

[N. Theknow]

"He did a terrible thing, but it wasn't murder."

It's OK Julia. You're not really dead. You can come back now.

[Spok]

"Why does the media insist that a cold-blooded murderer....always be referred to as a “journalist”?"

For the same reason that a low life criminal was always referred to as 'motorist Rodney King'-liberal media spin. Imagine if Sen. Byrd was a Republican, do you think he would ever be called anything but 'former Klan member Robert Byrd'?

[Bogey78O]

Correction: There are people who say OJ is innocent. Few of them believe that he's innocent. Dave Chappele had a few good jokes about it.

[cpdiii]

"FREE MUMIA"

This is a great idea. His soul should be set free from his body.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[darkangel82]

They should've fried this guy after his conviction in '61.