Spotlight skips cases of missing minorities

[journey]

It seems like only white women get kidnapped, or go missing. Why doesn't the news report any missing men, or black women? Why just white women?

What do you think is going on?

[jameslofton29]

Journey, I'm glad I'm not the only person who has noticed this. Its been going on for years. This really happens when it comes to missing and murdered kids. You hear about white upper middle class kids like Jonbenet Ramsey,Polly Klaas, and Natalie Holliway, but you never hear about the missing minorities. Its strange! I dont understand the reason behind it. I think it has more to do with the seperation of the classes than it does racism. Because you never hear about the poor white kids that go missing either.

[SLCPUNK]

It seems like only white women get kidnapped, or go missing. Why doesn't the news report any missing men, or black women? Why just white women?

What do you think is going on?

I've noticed this.

[journey]

Journey, I'm glad I'm not the only person who has noticed this. Its been going on for years. This really happens when it comes to missing and murdered kids. You hear about white upper middle class kids like Jonbenet Ramsey,Polly Klaas, and Natalie Holliway, but you never hear about the missing minorities. Its strange! I dont understand the reason behind it. I think it has more to do with the seperation of the classes than it does racism. Because you never hear about the poor white kids that go missing either.

You're right about that.

According to a study, it has a lot to do with a lack of diversity in newsrooms. Many reporters, editors and news producers identify more with people like them, who are white.

I personally think it needs to change, because it's not fair to other families.

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

dave chappel did a bit about it.

very funny.

with the moment where terrorists call the white house and are like

"ok, we got 2 black peop......" - hang up phone beeep beeep beeep ..........
 

or dave is like in a plane and terrorist are on board, and an other black dude looks at dave and they give each other the thumb up ... one white lady sees that and is lik "oh i think these man are gonna try to save us ..."

and daves goes " no, we just know that we ain't gonna be captured ...."

funny

[Tied-Up]

It's an example of media bias.  They make these determinations on what you should see, know and believe based on their own set of agendas.  It's not limited to missing people either. 

It's all about sensationalism, and controlling you, the viewer, and limiting your world view to the way they want you to see it. 

[SLCPUNK]

Our society focuses on beauty and wealth.

These kids profiled are usually both good looking, talented, and upper middle class/rich.

The bottom line: This sells more.

Only conclusion I can come up with.

*****

Thousands of murders/kidnappings every year.

Look at who they report:

The girl in Arubua (pretty)

Girl In Utah (Pretty/wealthy)

Lacy Peterson (pretty-and for all purposes Scott was a handsome guy)

Ramsey (pretty/wealth)

Pretty people grab headlines and keep people watching. Poor unattractive people do not.

News is about one thing: ratings and keeping their sponsors happy. That's it.

[Axls Locomotive]

certainly in recent times, the UK media isnt as bad as the US media...you see kidnappings on the news no matter the colour of those kidnapped...

although the UK media does display plenty of bias in other matters

[D]

U have to also take into account all these stories on the news are pretty crazy and out there movie type plots.

they are pretty interesting and entertaining scenarios.

[jameslofton29]

SLCPunk, you make a good point. They're not just selling beauty, they're selling sex itself. I'll never forget that Jonbenet Ramsey case. They completely sexualized that little girl. They rarely showed normal pictures of her. It was always provocative poses and video footage of her flirting with the camera. It was sick. But I was one of the ones that fell for that Elizabeth Smart story. I know she was only 14 or 15, but DAMN that girl was HOT! I would watch the various shows, see her pics and her piano recital video footage. I would look forward to new pics of her. This must have been the case with alot of other people too, because every week or so they would come up with some new pics/video footage to keep the fascination going. We live in a sex obsessed culture corroded in extreme filth. Its hard to believe society has come to this. God help us all!

[SLCPUNK]

SLCPunk, you make a good point. They're not just selling beauty, they're selling sex itself. I'll never forget that Jonbenet Ramsey case. They completely sexualized that little girl. They rarely showed normal pictures of her. It was always provocative poses and video footage of her flirting with the camera. It was sick. But I was one of the ones that fell for that Elizabeth Smart story. I know she was only 14 or 15, but DAMN that girl was HOT! I would watch the various shows, see her pics and her piano recital video footage. I would look forward to new pics of her. This must have been the case with alot of other people too, because every week or so they would come up with some new pics/video footage to keep the fascination going. We live in a sex obsessed culture corroded in extreme filth. Its hard to believe society has come to this. God help us all!

It keeps the interest level up doesn't it?

That is all they want....

To keep you coming back.

Our news.....is not news.

[jameslofton29]

yeah, the sexual tenson of these stories definitely keeps the interest up. But after the story dies down, these victims become disposable garbage. The media never does any follow up stories. Heard about Jonbenet's UNSOLVED murder recently? Or Elizabeth Smart's trouble in dealing with the trauma she endured? No you haven't, and you never will. Our society has moved on to other sex objects. And these 'new" sex objects(the aruba girl) are the next breed of disposable garbage. Sad but true.

[SLCPUNK]

yeah, the sexual tenson of these stories definitely keeps the interest up. But after the story dies down, these victims become disposable garbage. The media never does any follow up stories. Heard about Jonbenet's UNSOLVED murder recently? Or Elizabeth Smart's trouble in dealing with the trauma she endured? No you haven't, and you never will. Our society has moved on to other sex objects. And these 'new" sex objects(the aruba girl) are the next breed of disposable garbage. Sad but true.

Yup. That is why I don't watch much tv. I read online.

MJ trial is over, who is next? Well right now they are still talking about MJ, interviewing his lawyer, the jurors, etc etc.

The segue now is the girl in Aruba who has disapeared. Everyday with her now.

Next it will be something else.

Child molestation and kidnapping/murder are not trivial by any means and I do not mean to discount them. But on the other hand when will news ever be reported again? This is CNN and all the others paying nothing but attention to these sexed up stories.

It dumbs down the American people for sure.

[N.I.B]

what else is new? minorities are always ingnored. better get used to it, white people in a couple of years will be a minority 

just in response to journey's start

crime breakdown*
rape - black
child molestation - white
robbery - black
theift - white
drug trafficing - white
prostitution - black
murder - both
arson - white

*majority of race commiting the crimes

[SLCPUNK]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/earlyshow/living/main702549.shtml

(CBS) As the search continues for Natalee Holloway in Aruba, the family of another missing woman expresses frustration.

A year ago this week, a 24-year-old African-American woman named Tamika Huston of Spartanburg, S.C., was reported missing by her family. Most who know all about Holloway, probably haven't heard of Huston, although her family has tried everything it could to get national media attention.

According to FBI statistics, African-Americans and other minorities make up a larger portion of missing victims than the media represents. However, cases like Huston's often get little attention.

Huston's aunt, Rebkah Howard, who is a public relations professional, tried to develop national concern by having her family distribute fliers, hold a press conference, and create a Web site to get mass media attention, but the story was primarily ignored.

As the search continues for Holloway, who is white, an article in USA Today June 16 asks why the media doesn't show more concern about missing blacks, Hispanics and other minorities. While no one is suggesting that the media ignore Holloway's story, critics point to a trend.

Howard tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm she doesn't believe executive producers and newsroom staff consciously exclude persons of color, but notes it is important for the media to take a critical look at which cases they cover.

"What I believe is happening," Howard says, "is that networks have found a formula that has worked for them. And they tend to be about young, white attractive, middle- to upper-class women. And they continue to follow those stories. As one is resolved, they'll move on to the next one. I was met with a lot of resistance when I tried to get national attention for this case. It has been unfortunate."

Just recall the stories of Jennifer Wilbanks, the missing bride, Laci Peterson and Lori Hacking, the missing pregnant wives, and Elizabeth Smart, the young woman from Salt Lake City. They were all white, young, attractive, middle-class, American women.

According to FBI statistics and USA Today, men are more likely than women to be reported missing,and blacks make up a disproportionately large segment of the victims. However, you wouldn't know that from watching television, listening to the radio or reading national newspapers.

Since May 1, FBI statistics indicate there were 25,389 men and 22,200 women listed as missing. Of the total of missing women since May 1, 8,681 were minorities (this includes Asian, African-American, American Indian and other minorities except Hispanics.) This compares to 13,519 white and Hispanic women. (It is not clear how many of those are Hispanic.)

"I would really hope that the media would just come to us and help us, says Huston's father, Anthony. "Getting national media coverage in the beginning, we really think that could have helped us out."

Howard notes the circumstances of her niece's disappearance from Spartanburg were very suspicious.

She explains, "We don't know exactly the date that Tamika was last seen, but we're estimating, based on the police investigation, it was between May 24 to the 26. In mid-June, her car was discovered at an apartment complex not too far from where she lived in a single-family home. A key that was left in her vehicle traced back to an apartment that was formerly lived in by an acquaintance of Tamika. They found blood in that apartment that matched Tamika's DNA and police continue to investigate at this point."

Tamika Huston's body has not been found.

Huston's family also expressed their sympathy for Natalee Holloway's family.

[Queen of Everything]

Our society focuses on beauty and wealth.

These kids profiled are usually both good looking, talented, and upper middle class/rich.

The bottom line: This sells more.

Only conclusion I can come up with.

*****

Thousands of murders/kidnappings every year.

Look at who they report:

The girl in Arubua (pretty)

Girl In Utah (Pretty/wealthy)

Lacy Peterson (pretty-and for all purposes Scott was a handsome guy)

Ramsey (pretty/wealth)

Pretty people grab headlines and keep people watching. Poor unattractive people do not.

News is about one thing: ratings and keeping their sponsors happy. That's it.

Hey - nice point!!!

[SLCPUNK]

Hey - nice point!!!

thx.

[Queen of Everything]

Hey - nice point!!!

thx.

Welcome!!! 

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

Our society focuses on beauty and wealth.

These kids profiled are usually both good looking, talented, and upper middle class/rich.

The bottom line: This sells more.

Only conclusion I can come up with.

*****

Thousands of murders/kidnappings every year.

Look at who they report:

The girl in Arubua (pretty)

Girl In Utah (Pretty/wealthy)

Lacy Peterson (pretty-and for all purposes Scott was a handsome guy)

Ramsey (pretty/wealth)

Pretty people grab headlines and keep people watching. Poor unattractive people do not.

News is about one thing: ratings and keeping their sponsors happy. That's it.

i wouldnt go as far as "pretty"
catherine zeta jone is pretty.


do you think that richer people are prettier ?
its like when im driving on the freeway, and i see a nice car - real nice -, 80% of the times, a pretty girl is driving it.
why ?
because rich people married pretty girls long time ago, so these families "stay" pretty ?

[SLCPUNK]

Our society focuses on beauty and wealth.

These kids profiled are usually both good looking, talented, and upper middle class/rich.

The bottom line: This sells more.

Only conclusion I can come up with.

*****

Thousands of murders/kidnappings every year.

Look at who they report:

The girl in Arubua (pretty)

Girl In Utah (Pretty/wealthy)

Lacy Peterson (pretty-and for all purposes Scott was a handsome guy)

Ramsey (pretty/wealth)

Pretty people grab headlines and keep people watching. Poor unattractive people do not.

News is about one thing: ratings and keeping their sponsors happy. That's it.

i wouldnt go as far as "pretty"
catherine zeta jone is pretty.


do you think that richer people are prettier ?
its like when im driving on the freeway, and i see a nice car - real nice -, 80% of the times, a pretty girl is driving it.
why ?
because rich people married pretty girls long time ago, so these families "stay" pretty ?

It's all relative. But lets put it this way: the general public would find the person to be attractive. You are missing the point by saying 'Catherine Zeta is pretty (which I agree-LOL)'.

It is not my opinion if 'rich people are prettier', nor was it the point I was trying to make.

I'm saying money/white/attractive sells stories. That is my only opinion, not if certain people are attractive or not.

Off topic:

I know plenty of wealthy people who are not attractive. I know plenty of middle class people who are amazing looking. I know rich people who drive Hondas and middle class who drive Mercedes.

I see older men with money marry women who are attractive and want to be pampered. I'd say this is pretty common. But I also now couples who became wealthy together and stayed together.

Seeing a pretty woman driving a nice car is common anywhere I think. An attractive woman has a better chance to find a sugar daddy husband.