Even as a defacto member of the media, I hold a deep resentment for it. It seems that the more access we have to information, the more we are inundated with the same news items. How many people do we have missing right now? Natalee Holloway, George Allen Smith IV, Ray F. Gricar, Mark & Laura Vockery, Latoyia Figueroa, Fiona Faulkes, Helen Kelley... heck, there are even missing jurors, missing park rangers, missing boaters and a missing Sudanese VP. There were 9335 people reported missing in one state in Australia last year. We currently have more than 15,000 U.S. citizens missing abroad. Yet, we focus on just a few because the media wants stories that will make urge you to tune in.
It seems we also forget that some people "walk out" on life. They leave parents, husbands, wives, children and jobs to just be anywhere else. The nation went nuts wondering what happened to the Runaway bride but for absolutely no reason. What happens when we focus on each one that doesn't leave a note?
I think local journalism works as well nationally as local weather would. It only matters if you go or have family there. Sure, it's important to try to find missing people but what good does it do to focus 70% of news national news time on something you have little chance of affecting. For example, Aruba is quite a ways away from Vegas. It might keep pressure on an outside government and keep people from spending their tourist dollars there though. But, I think there should be a show like America's Most Wanted for missing people. Spend an hour a week focusing on these stories. But, as long as people are interested and keep watching there will always be a focus on the next missing person and there will always be another one.
7 comments:
OoOoh, the show is a GREAT idea!
I get the Amber Alert's here at work quite often. Though, I don't get to see a picture I think it can be somewhat affective.
But YOUR idea, now that's just crazy enough to work.
The thing I hate the most is the media's exploitation af the Aruba situation because they want ratings. Is it necessary for FOX News to be the 24/7 prime-time Aruba missing persons channel?
Better yet, you have a great idea.
I like your idea. Look how successful AMW has been, and how long it has been on the air??
It is interesting how the media works. Ratings, sensationalism and getting the story first (just to name a few) all affect how they skew it...
Am I remembering this wrong or does anyone else also remember when they used to have those messages on the local news that would give a list of anywhere from 5 to 10 individuals who were missing in the area or surrounding areas. The ones that would give a pic, a name, age, etc...just a quick rundown. Why don't they do that anymore instead of only focusing on the one most popular nationwide??
I choose not to watch to much news, it's all so utterly depressing. I find it distasteful when they stick a microphone in the face of someone who is so distraught over the death of a loved one just waiting for a soundbite.
Don't these 'news people' realize that they're only screwing themselves when they show these embellished stories?
It's the news for goodness sakes! Give me the facts and get on to the next!
Just imagine what we could be learning if they weren't wasting our time with all the added dribble.
Well, in Australia, most of those people got eaten by crocodiles, fell into quicksand, or devoured by zombies. Australia's not a safe place, ya know?
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