User:Evans1982/Susan Roesgen

Susan Roesgen is an Emmy award winning American reporter based in Chicago. She has worked as a general assignment correspondent for CNN since 2005. Before than, she was a prime time anchor at five TV stations, including WABC-TV, New York, and at the National Geographic Channel.

Roesgen's reporting has taken her from an Army barracks in Haiti, to the Sea of Galilee, and even to the pyramids of Egypt. She is the recipient of an Emmy award for her documentary on the theft of artifacts from New Orleans historic cemeteries, and a Louisiana Associated Press Award for her reporting in Israel. She graduated with honors from Montana State University in 1983, majoring in English Literature.

In July, 2009, CNN decided not to renew Roesgen's contract. When asked whether Roesgen's controversial behavior at a Tea Party protest in Chicago had anything to do with her being fired, a CNN spokesperson replied, "I can't comment on personnel matters."

Hurricane Katrina
A New Orleans-based journalist during Hurricane Katrina, she was the first reporter hired by CNN for the CNN Gulf Coast bureau in 2005. She moved to CNN's Chicago bureau in September, 2007.

2009 Tea Party Interviews
In April 2009 Roesgen interviewed a number of people at a 2009 Tea Party protest] in Chicago, Illinois. She interviewed a protestor who carried a sign that stated that U.S. President Barack Obama is a fascist. She asked another protestor why he attended the protest. The man responded, "Because I hear a president say that he believed in what Lincoln stood for. Lincoln's primary thing was he believed that people had the right to liberty, and had the right…" Roesgen interrupted the man and angrily asked him, "What does this have to do with your taxes? Do you realize that you're eligible for a $400 credit?" The man responded that "Lincoln believed that people had the right to share in the fruits of their own labor and that government should not take it. And we have clearly gotten to that point," before being cut off. Visibly angry, Roesgen then continued by saying, "Did you know, that the state of Lincoln gets $50 billion out of this stimulus? That's $50 billion for this state, sir." She concluded the interview with "I think you get the general tenor of this...It's anti-government, anti-CNN since this is highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network, Fox." Roesgen also said that she believed the event was "not really family viewing".

The interview drew much criticism from many in the media. The Augusta Chronicle editorial page wrote that it was "one of the most unprofessional acts of 'journalism' we've ever seen." Mona Charen of the National Review described her actions in the interview as "downright confrontational." National Review contributor Mark Hemingway wrote, "I have never seen a reporter enter the fray and act personally offended by the many, many examples of outrageous behavior at a protest. There's little to be gained by it, and it's simply not professional." Boston Herald columnist Michael Graham wrote that Roesgen "lashed out at the participants like an angry MoveOn.org member." A Fox News spokesperson remarked that "Judging by their lack of ratings, everyone seems to be anti-CNN." Others, like George Washington University professor of media, Frank Sesno, defended Roesgen for not letting statements go unchallenged. Sources close to the situation said as Roesgen was reporting, she heard shouts from the crowd including, "Damn CNN" and "Shut up, bitch." A CNN spokesperson said, "She was doing her job, and called it like she saw it." Roesgen has not commented publicly on the incident and immediately afterwards, she took a leave of absence that CNN has stated was a "planned vacation."

Drew Peterson arrest
Roesgen has been on location following the Drew Peterson case in February, 2009, during the investigations, and in May, during his arrest and initial court appearances.

Michael Jackson's death
During the week following the death of Michael Jackson, Roesgen reported daily from the Jackson family home in Encino, California. On June 28, she reported on the arrival and departure of people paying their respects, and on the growing memorial shrine in front of the house. On July 1, she reported on details contained in a 2002 copy of Jackson's will, and on July 4th, she reported on the 1.2 million people requesting tickets for the memorial service.