Coverage of important events by news media these days is, in my opinion, more ratings driven than content driven. This is especially the case in broadcast news although other outlets such as newspapers and web sites are following along. I guess I just don't understand what makes something "news" these days.
Here are two examples of what I'm talking about.
In Kansas City the media broadcast two days - yes, 2 days! of the sentencing hearing of Dennis Rader. This is two days of additional publicity for a person (animal?) that thrived on publicity and terror. They (and yeah, this article too although I won't use his pet nick-name) played right into Dennis Rader's sick plans. He got the last laugh again. Sentencing, based on confessions, should have happened in a small, closed courtroom and Dennis Rader should have been moved in the still of night with absolutely no media coverage so that he didn't, for one last time (at least for now), win again.
The next wonderful example is from Aspen, Colorado where the international media (check link) have picked up on a celebration to commemorate Hunter S. Thompson's suicide 6 months ago. While there are many that admire HST's live large philosophy, to give this much media (and blog) attention to celebrate a suicide is nothing more than sensationalism. At least this one was buried in the Entertainment section (which is in and of itself rather ironic too).
What happened to our newsrooms?