I've noticed I'm not the only one whose patience has been tested by national coverage of the Holloway disappearance, the run-away bride and a slew of other stories whose larger relevance for the nation or the world at large seems... questionable.

This happens every year and all the time of course, but summer is the worst.

The oft-repeated theory as to why is that these stories capture the attention of Americans.

However while briefly discussing this with my mother she tossed that aside with a poignant observation.

After watching "Hotel Rwanda" about five times it stand to reason that such stories including many situation occurring now in the Congo, Nepal, and Bhutan as well as coverage over issues in the United States (the meth epidemic for example) could just as easily capture public attention and be focused on issues of far greater import.

So...
Do you believe that the Holloway disappearance has been receiving too much coverage on national television?

If so, why do you believe this is?

Is the tendency towards stories with a lack of complexity, "pop journalism" as I like to call it driven by public demand?

Is public demand driven by "pop journalism"?

What is responsible for the nature of American TV news?

Absolutely. Tell me when you hear anything of national importance: A girl has gone missing...her parents are concerned...most people think she's been killed...there are a few suspects.

Nothing? Didn't think so. This incident is unfortunate and my heart goes out to the family of the girl, but this issue is frankly, none of my business or of my concern.

Yes, people eat up these "human interest" stories that the press keeps feeding them. Meanwhile, actual news flies under the radar.

Apathy. People seem to care more about human interest stories than national interest news. If people are willing to watch something as nationally unimportant as the Hollaway case, the media is willing ot keep giving the people what they want.

CP

To answer turnea's questions:



Yes. It is because liberal media wants to focus on something that truly concerns 20 people on Earth because it wants to give the case a feeling of "the nation must care....it happened to someone like them..." I do care that someone did this, but report only the big things, not things like, "Still no clues. Now let's watch as this car goes by. Nope. That car had no clues. Lets consult with our former FBI director why people do these things. Oh...because they're crazy." -Commercial-: "Geraldo gives the real scoop on the Natalee Holloway case when he interviews the former FBI director in 30 minutes..." My. Brain.



Yes. People feel bad about her, and so do I. I just don't care to hear about the same things every day.



People are starting to want to hear more gossip, so yes.



They can't report about big things every day, because big things don't happen every day. So they have to waste time with worthless things like Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, Jessica Lynch, Pat Tillman, and Robert Blake.

Although I feel like the media does get carried away with stories like this and always takes it to the extreme I must admit that I do not object to these kinds of stories being focused on or believe that they are of no use. I think highlighting the fact that taking a woman and raping and murdering her is something we find appalling and disgusting and that we are willing to spend the resources, time and effort to seek justice for is a good thing. They classify it..statistically.. as an intimate murder and women account for nearly 80% of all intimate murders in the US.