If Elizabeth Smart weren't white, rich, 'cute', a girl, would the media still care?

[Phokus]

IMHO, it just contributes to my belief that the media has become to sensationalistic. I dunno, did they come up with a formula that any little rich white girl who gets kidnapped/murdered all of a sudden becomes instant ratings? Lots of kids get kidnapped. We have stories about kids getting killed/kidnapped here in boston all the time, but they only get a day or two of airtime, while some girl from utah is on all the local stations 24/7. Oh well.

Edit: Let me clarify that i am mostly referring to when Elizabeth Smart first went missing.

 

[Spoooon]

Media = sensationalism... yes.

But I suppose you have to wonder what they should do about it. Report every single kidnapping, lost kid, murder, etc.... or just publish the stories that people might be interested in.

 

[Electric Amish]

I still don't care.


amish

 

[Zenmervolt]

How often is any kid, regardless of race, looks or social class, missing for nine months and then found without a scratch? The media would care about any kid who was found in perfect health after being missing that long.

ZV

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Phokus
IMHO, it just contributes to my belief that the media has become to sensationalistic. I dunno, did they come up with a formula that any little rich white girl who gets kidnapped/murdered all of a sudden becomes instant ratings? Lots of kids get kidnapped. We have stories about kids getting killed/kidnapped here in boston all the time, but they only get a day or two of airtime, while some girl from utah is on all the local stations 24/7. Oh well.

Yes.... but this time she was FOUND. Do you have any idea how amazing that is? What the chances of that are?

The media would still care.

 

[zsouthboy]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I still don't care.


amish

me too.

Its not that i have no compassion, but...... gimme a break, media

 

[FoBoT]

there are plenty of kids that don't fit your criteria that have gone missing since last summer and you haven't heard about them, i think that answers the question

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
How often is any kid, regardless of race, looks or social class, missing for nine months and then found without a scratch? The media would care about any kid who was found in perfect health after being missing that long.

ZV

Actually, my post was in reference to when Elizabeth first became missing.

 

[exp]

I have been wondering the same thing myself. Why do they make such a huge deal out of a handful of cases while hundreds of others go completely unreported? I guess it's just another reminder of how pathetic the media is in this country..

 

[Viper GTS]

What's your point?

Other kids were kidnapped (and subsequently killed) around the same time, & they made the news.

Yes, her family likely used their money/social status to gain more attention, but can you blame them?

I would have done the exact same thing in their situation.

Viper GTS

 

[halik]

well the media need something to fill the air time with. I'm sure if she was from downtown detroit, black and poor she might get a mention a menion on the local news and thats it.

And as for the being founda rgument,
they had a ton of coverage even months after she disappeared

 

[weezergirl]

i don't even remember hearing about the story of when she was first missing.

i do remember hearing a lot about that jon benet girl tho.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
How often is any kid, regardless of race, looks or social class, missing for nine months and then found without a scratch? The media would care about any kid who was found in perfect health after being missing that long.

ZV

Actually, my post was in reference to when Elizabeth first became missing.

hmm...u have a good point ......maybe maybe...probably is actually..hehe

 

[fizmeister]

It's comforting to know that the discovery of one little kidnapped girl is worthy of the top news story over more, erm, pressing matters.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Phokus
IMHO, it just contributes to my belief that the media has become to sensationalistic. I dunno, did they come up with a formula that any little rich white girl who gets kidnapped/murdered all of a sudden becomes instant ratings? Lots of kids get kidnapped. We have stories about kids getting killed/kidnapped here in boston all the time, but they only get a day or two of airtime, while some girl from utah is on all the local stations 24/7. Oh well.

NOPE. they wouldnt.

At the same time IN chicago there was 2 little black girls that was kidnapped. i only seen it on the local news. maybe it even hit CNN once or twice.

Me and my wife had a conversation about this (she comes from a mixed race family) and we were thinking the same thing. If she was NOT white, rich and cute she would nto have gotten the media attention.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: fizmeister
It's comforting to know that the discovery of one little kidnapped girl is worthy of the top news story over more, erm, pressing matters.

Thousands (if not millions) of people would recognize her name & were worried about her.

I would say that's pretty fvcking news worthy.

Viper GTS

 

[justint]

Nope. Wouldn't have gone past a blurb on the local news.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
there are plenty of kids that don't fit your criteria that have gone missing since last summer and you haven't heard about them, i think that answers the question

sadly so true

 

[thawolfman]

Who?

What happened?

Somebody got kidnapped?

 

[Layzee]

I also tend to notice that children who do not have the Elizabeth Smart "qualities" would not get as much media attention after they were kidnapped.

What I did like was with all the media coverage yesterday, Elizabeth's father took the opportunity to push the implementation of the Amber Alert System nationwide. He sure did put a couple of Congressmen on the spot....

 

[spaceman]

yes.it isnt too often a girl is kidnapped and missing for 8 months and ends up alive and well.
its a "feel good" story and certainly newsworthy even if she looked like Chuckies Bride.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I still don't care.
amish

same. actually i dont even remember hearing about this this summer

 

[waggy]

OH i agree that a missing child for 9 months being found is newsworthy!

But the orginal poster asked a question that i agree with. IF she was NOT white, rich and cute i dont think the orginal abduction would have gained as much news as if she was a poor black girl from the inner city houseing project.

 

[halik]

what did the girl look like afterwards anyway? I cant seem to find any mentions abotu taht...what exactly did she do for 9 months?

 

No.