Journalist comments on the Obama inauguration

[Slytovhand]

While this is true, GWAS, there really are far more news-worthy stories out there that could be told. There is, in fact, a lot of things that happen that never even reach the regular news channels because they aren't 'popular' with various administrations. You said

"Let's face it, there really are some days when no one gets blown up, no planes fall out of the sky, etc. etc. etc. "

. No, that's not true at all. There are wars all over the planet at the moment, there are bombings happening every day.. somewhere in the world. It's just that said news channels seem to think that a few dozen africans getting killed in a civil war that's been going on for a couple of decades now is less important than, eg Obama waving.

[linguist]

Fun fact: One time I was watching Robin Meade's show on Headline News, and they spent several minutes reporting a story about some event in England where people rolled themselves down a hill, and whoever managed to roll to the bottom of the hill first was awarded a wedge of some kind of cheese.

you'd be referring to the cooper's hill cheese-rolling and wake. contestants don't actually roll down the hill, at least not to start. cooper's hill is very steep, and in their race after the wheel of double gloucester cheese rolling down the hill, many often trip and end up rolling. it's an event fraught with injuries every year. the winner, of course, wins the wheel of cheese.

[daleduke17]

that said news channels seem to think that a few dozen africans getting killed in a civil war that's been going on for a couple of decades now is less important than, eg Obama waving.

Does the civil war affect the USA in any way? If it doesn't, why have it on the news? There are plenty of actual news stories happening in the USA, or to USA interests, than to worry about a civil war between two factions that the USA has no connections with.

[AdminAssistant]

I would actually rather hear about international events that may not impact the US directly than hear CONSTANT coverage on the woman with 8 kids, the plane that landed on the Hudson, the plane that crashed into a house, and all the various other sob stories the media fixates on to pull the American heartstrings and distract from the real problem.

If nothing else, it might be a reminder to us that there are plenty of people who are worse off than we are. Losing your house means nothing when there are other people being mercilessly slaughtered for no reason.

I had a student a few years ago from Cameroon, and we got to talking about Africa...and he got a little upset and said that the world sees Africa as its landfill. No one cares about the people or the resources available there. It's very sad, actually.

[Boozy]

Does the civil war affect the USA in any way?

I can't think of a single civil war in Africa that doesn't have a US connection. The arms are usually purchased from US weapons manufacturers and dealers, the economic issues usually go back to US trade restrictions and/or domestic subsidies, the political leaders on either side are sometimes supported directly or indirectly by the US government, and the disputed resources in war-torn countries are often being sold directly to US consumers.

But you'd never know it if you only watched network news.

With that said, the networks are not non-profit educational organizations. They are businesses, and they will air the stories that people will watch. You can't fault them for that. They're just trying to make a buck.

If you want the public to have access to big, important stories that may not sell ad space, the best solution is no-strings-attached completely non-partisan funding for public news providers like PBS and NPR.

[AFPheonix]

I can't think of a single civil war in Africa that doesn't have a US connection. The arms are usually purchased from US weapons manufacturers and dealers, the economic issues usually go back to US trade restrictions and/or domestic subsidies, the political leaders on either side are sometimes supported directly or indirectly by the US government, and the disputed resources in war-torn countries are often being sold directly to US consumers.

Not to mention the times the CIA has gone in to engineer leader assassinations for various reasons.
We have our fingers in a lot of pies we as the public don't necessarily know about until much later.