What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

[RollinCalf]

From time to time the media goes into high gear when a woman goes a missing. In the latest case, it is a young lady from the US who was visiting Aruba and who was, as they say, "last seen getting into a car with three young men".

See story Here

Given that women I would imagine go a missing all the time, I was just wondering how the media decides which ones to jump up and down about and which ones to take a pass on. I mean, my big neck police fren dem tell me that all districts maintain a database of missing women (and men too I may add) that is always in the thousands.

Disclaimer: I believe the disappearance of any person that is the result of foul play and that results in harm to that person is evil and should be condemned by all.

[Tigrrr]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

I wonder that also RC. Same with missing kids. I ongly remember one Black kid who was missing and made the news - and in that case it was because she outsmarted the person who kidnapped her.

[RollinCalf]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb] Same with missing kids.[/qb]

True true.

Journalists say they often publish only what sells. Now what is the message in that ?

[mountaingal]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

journalists' and editors' criteria when deciding what to publish (as remembered vaguely from my days in the profession)

- is it a slow news day (meaning, no other big news is going on)

- is it summer and there are a lack of news stories generally due to holidays?

- does the story involve a local in a foreign place? (like this story)

- does the story involve someone photogenic, whose face on the cover may spur people to buy?

- does the news involve a tug-your-heart story line?

- is there something in the story that is out of the ordinary, some quirky angle that lifts it out of the bag of other stories like it?

etc. by the way, the uber-criterion is: if i print this story will it help me sell papers?

[Boopie2]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Being White

[RollinCalf]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

So MG, it look like if mose a wi on here were to be missing in action, dawg nyam wi suppah !

[mountaingal]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Originally posted by RollinCalf:
[qb] So MG, it look like if mose a wi on here were to be missing in action, dawg nyam wi suppah ! [/qb]

well, it depen pon de paypa. for most of what i call "mainstream" press, yes, "our" disappearance may not warrant coverage, unless there is something particularly sensational about it.

actually, you know, nuff "mainstream" disappearances don't get reported at all, due to the victims' unhelpful ordinariness.

[Tigrrr]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Originally posted by mountaingal:
[qb] journalists' and editors' criteria when deciding what to publish (as remembered vaguely from my days in the profession)

- is it a slow news day (meaning, no other big news is going on)

- is it summer and there are a lack of news stories generally due to holidays?

- does the story involve a local in a foreign place? (like this story)

- does the story involve someone photogenic, whose face on the cover may spur people to buy?

- does the news involve a tug-your-heart story line?

- is there something in the story that is out of the ordinary, some quirky angle that lifts it out of the bag of other stories like it?

etc. by the way, the uber-criterion is: if i print this story will it help me sell papers? [/qb]

MG you forgot one other criteria - if the President (Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, whoever) has done something extremely stupid and they need a different headliner to knock their embarrassment to page 2. Usually a disappearance isn't enough. It usually takes a whole space shuttle full of people to blow up.

[RollinCalf]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Originally posted by mountaingal:
[qb] actually, you know, nuff "mainstream" disappearances don't get reported at all, due to the victims' unhelpful ordinariness. [/qb]

Hmmmmm. Come to think of it, I can't remember any short, fat people or anybody that looks like me being reported as missing.

Donkey seh....

[Guest]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

RollinCalf, if you were suspected of killing someone or killed by the police that would make headlines.

[RollinCalf]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Originally posted by BlackStar:
[qb] RollinCalf, if you were suspected of killing someone or killed by the police that would make headlines. [/qb]

I've wondered sometimes what media reports involving me would include in their narrative. Here is a sample:

"Neighbours described him as a quiet man who kept to himself......"

"Passersby looked on in horror as...."

"Officers were overcome by the smell of burning...."

"Relatives denied knowing......"

"Investigators were unable to identify...."

"His live in girlfriend fled......"

"He left no clues as to...."

"Sections of the neighbourhood were cordoned off....

"SWAT Team members beat a hasty retreat as...."

And of course:

"The Jamaican government refused to...."

[DanielTh]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

- she gotta be white

- she gotta be hetero

- preferrably she's got to be either a) a young monther (or mother to be) b) a young bride (or bride to be) or c) a combo of both.

- there has to be a suspect already, so that the media can "hint" at his involvement or the next several weeks

[Bink - the Only]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Originally posted by DanielTh:
[qb] - she gotta be white

- she gotta be hetero

- preferrably she's got to be either a) a young monther (or mother to be) b) a young bride (or bride to be) or c) a combo of both.

- there has to be a suspect already, so that the media can "hint" at his involvement or the next several weeks [/qb]

other than the last part, unfortunately, that pretty much sums it up. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[Nancymac45]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

is it a slow news day (meaning, no other big news is going on)

- is it summer and there are a lack of news stories generally due to holidays?

- does the story involve a local in a foreign place? (like this story)

- does the story involve someone photogenic, whose face on the cover may spur people to buy?

- does the news involve a tug-your-heart story line?

- is there something in the story that is out of the ordinary, some quirky angle that lifts it out of the bag of other stories like it?

They are also offering a large reward $50,000.
That could have something to do with it also.

[Princess1]

Re: What does it take to be reported in the media as a missing woman ?

Didn't her parents ever teach her not to go off with strangers? Mine did! They always would say: STAY WITH THE GROUP!