Why Some Missing Persons Cases Get More Coverage?

[phrenzy]

In light of the more 'flamey' threads - I wanted to open one to have an analytical discussion of this phenomenon. What constitutes the perfect storm of these 'media sensation' missing persons?

It seems like most of these elements have to be present:

- Female (Damsel in distress)
- Pretty (Which, in the media's eyes usually means 'caucasian')
- Unlikely Victim (Well-to-do, from the burbs, etc)
- Salaciousness of some kind (Victim was part of a love triangle, etc)
- Video (Makes good TV news)
- Famous Suspect (Real-Life Court Drama)
- Slow news day / week where the media needs to create a 'national soap opera'

Things that seem to rule a story OUT are:

- Minority (especially Black)
- Unattractive (regardless of race - i.e. fat white girl will not get coverage)
- Troubled teen (runaways, etc)

Any other theories?

[MadMaddie]

1. Nopity that about sums it up...

[Xipe Totec]

2. While the flame threads had good points,

they were poorly made and poorly timed.

It was sad to see, because the unintended message was: race trumps life.

Your analysis, by the way, is spot on.

[Buzz Clik]

7. Outstanding post.

Tawana Brawley and the Duke rape case come to mind as notable exceptions to the list in the OP; however, there is no denying that the trends are there.

[phrenzy]

10. Thanks - Although I think those two might fall under a different category.

Tawana Brawley led because it allegedly involved police - making it more a 'Police Brutality' story than an abduction. If Tawana Brawley had simply gone missing, we would not even know her name today.

Also, with the Duke / Stripper case - It had less to do with the alleged victim and more to do with the alleged perpetrators. Rich white college boys. The college boys were the real story, not the woman. Again, had that same woman gone missing: No story.

[WinkyDink]

3. Not to mention: Not everything CAN be reported.

[Beaverhausen]

4. What about the two little black boys who were missing last year?

before anyone flames me: I know that they are just ONE case of black kids (and boys) getting the media attention, but I'm wondering why them? Maybe because they were so young?

I do agree with the OP.

[librechik]

11. sometimes real news makes it through the filter

usually when the asshole Bushie associate producer is on vacation and the well-meaning but inexperienced recent J school grad is in charge for a few days.

[gollygee]

5. Looks like an accurate list

pretty blonde girls get lots of media coverage. Very famous minority men and women get coverage if something bad happens to them. But even then, they get less than pretty white women. Remember when the singer Aaliyah died in a plane crash? I hardly heard anything on the news. Just a brief mention. Even just a moderately famous pretty blonde singer would have gotten some really heavy coverage a la Anna Nicole Smith.

[Solo_in_MD]

6. Its the if it bleeds it leads mentality

Media editors and producers are in the biz of getting eyeballs to look at their product, including the ads. They go with what they perceive will bring in the most eyeballs. Ratings are everything and losing money to provide *quality coverage* is not an option. TV, radio, newspapers and online news sites are all under this pressure. Thus if it bleeds, it leads.

If they think that some cute white girl missing on her senior trip is going to get more readers/viewers than a missing immingrant missing while trying to cross the border, they will go with it.

IMO its economics based on the tastes/desires of their target audience, not racism or bigotry. Don't get high enough ratings and the ads won't pay costs and your are gone. For a practical lesson on media economics, just look at AAR. Its all about the bucks, not bigotry.

I know it pisses off some that economics plays a part in what they consider social responsibility, but under our system it does.

[muntrv]

8. Low income.

[mzteris]

9. You forgot one thing that is very important -

if the admin needs the public to be distracted from something. Then anything goes.

Otherwise, I think your list is pretty accurate.

Sad, that.