I've always found some of the new coverage of Airline crashes weird: 227 people on board the airplane, and the lead is 3 Americans on board.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that we shouldn't care that Americans die, but 227 people were on board, for goodness sake. I mean, is the lead in Peru "No Peruvians on board missing Airplane"?
Malaysian Airline Missing: 3 Americans on board!
Malaysian Airline Missing: 3 Americans on board!
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- Will Durant
"We've kept more promises than we've even made"
- Donald Trump
"Of what meaning is the world without mind? The question cannot exist."
- Edwin Land
Re: Malaysian Airline Missing: 3 Americans on board!
It has been my experience, in the countries I have been in (Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Netherlands, Israel, South Africa, Great Britain, and U.S.A., of course) that news stories about disasters, wars, etc. tend to lead off from the local interest angle. Yes, it does seem weird, but it also makes sense: locals are interested in what happens to other locals, because they can identify with them. Psychologically, those who are not in "your tribe" are secondary in interest to most readers or viewers.
(This also works within a country too: a New York TV news station reporting this kind of story will tend to highlight reportage of locals because people will be usually be more interested in the story, and will probably stay around while the commercials play.)
Outside of the major urban areas this is even more pronounced: if someone from anywhere in Montana was on that plane, you can bet that all of the Montana news coverage--TV, print, radio, or online--will lead off with their loss--as well as a compelling story about who they were, why they were on the plane, comments from their family members, plus their elementary school principal, etc..)
Bottom line: it's a business. You do what will make the most profit for the owner/shareholders.
(This also works within a country too: a New York TV news station reporting this kind of story will tend to highlight reportage of locals because people will be usually be more interested in the story, and will probably stay around while the commercials play.)
Outside of the major urban areas this is even more pronounced: if someone from anywhere in Montana was on that plane, you can bet that all of the Montana news coverage--TV, print, radio, or online--will lead off with their loss--as well as a compelling story about who they were, why they were on the plane, comments from their family members, plus their elementary school principal, etc..)
Bottom line: it's a business. You do what will make the most profit for the owner/shareholders.
Last edited by Guest on Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Malaysian Airline Missing: 3 Americans on board!
The strength and longevity of any story at the Salt Lake TV stations depends upon whether there was a Mormon and/or a Utahan involved. When it involves a Utahan who is active in the LDS Church and reasonably attractive, then then story might last for several days and even be reprieved for show and tell in the biggest stories compendium at the end of the year.
If an attractive young missionary from Utah bites a dog, that is not news. However, if a vicious anti-LDS dog were to bite the same missionary, you would have the night's lead story. If it was a dolphin nicknamed Obama, you as a first person witness would have a book offer from Deseret Book. If the dolphin had exceptionally long canine-like teeth, then Stephanie Meyers would list you as a contributor. If the dolphin had space markings, then Orson Scott Card would first require you to take the non-homo pledge before opening any negotiations.
If an attractive young missionary from Utah bites a dog, that is not news. However, if a vicious anti-LDS dog were to bite the same missionary, you would have the night's lead story. If it was a dolphin nicknamed Obama, you as a first person witness would have a book offer from Deseret Book. If the dolphin had exceptionally long canine-like teeth, then Stephanie Meyers would list you as a contributor. If the dolphin had space markings, then Orson Scott Card would first require you to take the non-homo pledge before opening any negotiations.
Cry Heaven and let loose the Penguins of Peace