Conjoined Twins vs Airline Crash Headlines

[Siliconjunkie]

Does anyone else find it as distrubing as I do that CNNs page has a huge headline w/pictures regarding the conjoined twins not surviving and the Sudan airliner that crashes killing 116 is in small type to the left?

I realize this story has more human interest, and has been in the news alot the last few days, which is fine. But a tragedy killing 116 gets pushed aside for it? The twins went into this knowing there was alot of risk, the odds were against them, 116 people going on holiday or on buisness are killed, but aren't as important/tragic?

Typical media spin.

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I fully agree. Media will always look at what is more sensational not what is important or news worthy.

The deaths of Ladan and Laleh have saddened millions who had keenly followed the efforts of the twins to live separate lives.

The bravery and determination shown by the 29-year-old Iranians in the face of dangers inherent to the unprecedented surgery -- dangers of which they were fully aware -- struck a chord around the world.

In Singapore, the story has dominated headlines with the Bijanis becoming virtually honorary citizens.

Oh I don't know, it looks like many people were vested in the lives of these women. I think this was a newsworthy story.
It's just not about war or nameless faceless people. It's about 2 women millions of people cared about.

How can it be classified as just sensationalism? If millions of people have been following the story why is it not what is important or news worthy?

[M_Six]

Look at the weekend Princess Di was killed. Or JFK, Jr. Many other things happened on those weekends, but you never heard about them. The media fixates on stories that sell, not on everyday things, no matter how tragic. When you see a story of Farmer Brown's new calf with the spot that resembles the Virgin Mary, you know it's been a REALLY slow news day. On the busy news days, things get buried. The deaths of the airplane passengers directly affect thousands of people. Beyond that, there's little interest. The death of the twins, especially after the media build-up last week, is of interest to millions. If the media hadn't played it up last week, we'd all be asking "Who died?" this morning. The story of the twins would have meant nothing to us. The human interest is all media generated. They create the news as well as reporting it. They're all in it for the money, after all.

Well I don't think any of those stories can be compared to Princess Di, and while the JFK thing was tragic, I don't think it warranted as much press as it got.

But I will bow to you on this one M_Six I went back to get the story about the plane crash and note that they did not even have a survivor list yet much less information on what happened and the story was gone. I would like to know how the child survived, I've often thought of the Northwest crash in Detroit where the same situation happened, a 5 year old girl lived.

Hey! they have this one now, Bullstory. Now that is what I would call useless sensationalism. Not the story of the twins.

I guess if they media hypes up a story like that about the twins, and people become to care and feel compassion in their ordinary lives what is the wrong in that? This was sad as the women died, but times these stories have a happy ending. And we can share their joy. Why is it that exceptional stories of humanity are not newsworthy? Perhaps I'm naive or just an optimist but I have a need to believe in the human spirit. I think mankind has a need to believe in the human spirit. I think the story of the twins should have meant something to us. In addition to the story of the plane crash.

But I am a marshmallow. I feel that the reason we are here is to touch others in some way making their life better. Not really for ourselves.
and don't you dare tell a soul! I can't let the real me be exposed here! I must be a neutral moderator! heehee I think that's an oxymoron

[M_Six]

I guess what bugs me is that the media pick and choose which story they decide to make a cause celeb. The twins story was very unusual and probably deserved the coverage it got. But take the case of Elian, the Cuban kid who got sent back to his family in Cuba. His case was not at all unusual, but the media keyed in on it and turned it into a national frenzy. It made us all look like idiots. It did NOT raise awareness of the same thing happening to other kids, it only made everyone involved look foolish. That was story created by the same folks who reported it. Newsies making news.

This kind of thing is common. Look at the Smart girl kidnapping. There are tens of such cases but we never hear of them. what about the Scott peterson case? Must be hundreds of such cases every year and they made it like OJ trial and Scott is not an OJ even.

Media will print/report what sells. That is their only responsibility. In the end its always about money.

[Epidemic]

news is mostly about the uncommon. conjoined twins is more rare than airline disasters.

If the news reported merely the horrible events involving human suffering their cameras would spend all day every day in Africa and the middle east. Murders, corporate scandels and any horror happening in the US would pale in comparison to the horrific events which transpire in the third world.

News is not about reporting on human suffering, it is about reporting what is newsworthy to the core audience. Things which it's audience can relate to, or find intriguing and occasionally to bring to light things which we the public had not thought of.

Morning, Duke.

Exactly right. Its the uncommon news that sells. Ultimatelt, itts the bottom line or the ratings that matter.

[Mike]

I think they have a little girl that is a survivor of the plane crash. (Two years old or something)
Well I don't know if it's uncommon stuff or stuff that people really want to hear about.
The Smart case? A rich family had their girl kidnapped, so so sad. Yet it happens everyday. I see post cards in the mail about missing children almost everyday.

The Peterson case is really driving me nuts. Since it happened in California the press coverage is ridiculous around here. That's all that is on the news in the morning, mid day, night time.

My spelling/grammar isn't up to par and I just got home from the gym. Perhaps time for a shower and bed.