Why are the Mt Hood climbers getting such prominent national attention? (media rant)

[BushOut06]

I get that it's a tragic story. But honestly, outside of the climbers' family and friends, and the local area, why is this such a big deal? People go missing (and die) in national parks each and every year. It's not really that uncommon. Yet, I see this story getting front page attention of our local newspaper (in Orlando, FL), with the Iraq fiasco getting bumped to a side column.

How many people are getting fed up with the national media? It seems like the media careems from one sensationalistic story to another. They had the missing white girl in Aruba, then the "Runaway Bride", yadda yadda yadda. How many people nationwide were transfixed by the Laci Peterson murder, or the Jon Benet kidnapping? Yet I daresay that in your very own local area, there were people killed or missing that you never ever heard about.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Because the talking airheads

have nothing else to talk about.

I mean what do you want them to do, talk about Iraq? :sarcasm:

[leftchick]

2. or Global Warming

focusing on one travesty at a time and one that doesn't affect me in the least is the best they can do.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. They're afraid we'll stop spending money

if they talk about global warming.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I might suggest three reasons

- they started the story and can't quit until it dies a natural death.
- there is the opportunity for awesome visuals.
- if one outfit covers it, the rest have to follow suit

It will soon be replaced with another big story.

[bluerum]

6. My three things: Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. nt

[LynneSin]

4. You think we should talk about violent things like the War & our dead soldiers

Silly you

:sarcasm:

[bluerum]

5. Must,not, talk, about, Iraq. nt

[this_side_up]

7. Yesterday's paper said the families "are intensely religious" n/t

[leftofthedial]

8. easier than covering actual news

and they are hoping for a heartwarming holiday miracle

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Heh.

No they're not.

[cwydro]

21. you're right.

[Robbien]

10. The guy writing the GOP talking point memos has left town for the holidays

and the news appears to be stuck in a Mt Hood reporting loop.

[NNN0LHI]

11. Sharks aren't biting n/t

[Supersedeas]

20. John Mark Karr has returned home and Miss USA made a mistake

[BuyingThyme]

12. Survivor.

[skygazer]

13. People don't even seem to know what "news" is anymore

I mentioned something similar to a friend one day and she agreed but ruined it by citing her example of "real news" which was whatever tabloid murder was in the headlines that day. I pointed out that since it was in some distant part of the country, it wasn't really relevant news to our area and she just got a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face and had no comprehension of what I was saying.

I've been reading a great book about an anthropologist who lived several seasons with reindeer herders in remote camps in Siberia during the 90's. At one point, he was staying with a guy who spent half his time in a winter hunting camp, alone with his father, and the other half in a reindeer herder's camp in a remote area with 6 or 8 other men. The guy intelligently discussed world affairs with the author, asking questions about the effect of the Chunnel on the British economy and the political situation in Northern Ireland. And I wondered how many Americans would have the awareness of this solitary Russian reindeer herder. :banghead:

[Old Smokey]

14. Keeps peoples mind off the war

[UTUSN]

16. Flip side of Missing-Blonde-Girls n/t

[Disturbed]

18. People like Drama.

This is a simple Drama that is real. Iraq, Afghanistan, Global Warming, the Economy are complicated and depressing. Media Corps survive by viewer ship and this does generate that.

[Pendrench]

17. I wonder if the media sees this as a "continuation" of the James Kim story (?)

In that we have a missing person (in this case "persons") battling the elements, fate unknown...and perhaps they were hoping for a happy ending in this case?

Not to justify the coverage, but it might be that the media knows that the story of Mr. Kim is still fresh in the public's mind.

Tim

[GeorgeGist]

19. Entertainment...

at someone else's expense.

[mondo joe]

22. Stories like this have always been powerful. Kids in wells, missing climbers

and so on.

Some click, some don't.

[Parche]

23. climbers

Ok, so I live in Portland, and I see this news everyday, what gets me, (and dont get me wrong
I dont want anyone to 'die' on the mountain,) but all of this energy going towards 'rescuing' them
when they should not have been out there in the first place? I am not heartless, but people
have to be responsible for their actions, and especially in this case.