Did The Media Drop the Ball on the Jena Story?

THE STORY OF what happened in Jena, Louisiana made international news. Eventually.

It wasn't until long after the initial events that the national media wrote about the racially-charged incidents in the sleepy little town. It was nearly a full year before the case of the Jena 6 became an actual movement, complete with protests and rallies across the country (including here at Temple).

But why did it take so long? Was it too controversial for the mainstream media? Were the facts so disputed that no one wanted to touch the story?

And when the media finally covered the story, did they do so superficially, never really delving into the facts and details, such as Mychal Bell's prior arrest record?

Did the media fall into a trap set by radical bloggers?