Why do only some missing persons gain media attenion?

[WillsBabe]

A programme on tv last night told us that 300 people a week are reported missing in Manchester, a UK city of 2 million souls. Replicated over the UK that's a lot of missing people each year. Of course many, many, probably most return home safe and well, or are found and accounted for in other ways. And yet, every so often, there will be a missing person to hit the news headlines. One person amongst hundreds who are presumably not found will come to the media's attention. Why is this? What is it that makes one person, one case, news-worthy and the others not? Anyone have any insights? It's something that I've been curious about for a while now.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Presumably most are routine; false alarms, runaways, et cetera. The ones that make the media are probably the ones with some interesting element, or involve a cute kid or an attractive woman, or just happened to be on the top of the pile on a slow news day. But, really, so many people go missing, there could be a channel dedicated to the subject.

 

[Jadzia]

I think it's largely up to the families whether they get the media involved. Not everyone wants to bring that upon themselves. I can imagine it would add to the stress of having someone missing. Plus, when a person has a certain level of independence, they kind of have more of a right to go missing, so it may not be as appropriate to make some cases public.

 

[Mallory]

But, really, so many people go missing, there could be a channel dedicated to the subject.

Now that you've said it, there probably will be. The Missing Persons Network (MPN), now available on Channel 555. All missing persons! All the time!

 

[Davros]

Because they are white.

 

[nevermore]

^And pretty!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

And usually fairly well to do.

 

[JoeZhang]

and young.


Black, teenaged and connected to gangs? forget it - you more than likely deserved to disappear.

 

[cultcross]

To be fair, the vast majority of people reported missing are found within 24 hours. Most fall into 3 categories:
a) not actually missing at all - are right where they're supposed to be.
b) suffer from dementia or a related condition and went 'walkabout'
c) Have left deliberately of their own accord and are fine.

Only a very small proportion fall into categories d) and e)
d) have left deliberately of their own accord and come to harm.
e) have left against their will and possibly come to further harm.

I have encountered two cases of (d), zero of (e). (a), (b) and (c) are nightly events.

 

[sidious618]

You make the news depending on how attractive you are. For example, if I went it missing it would be 24/7 coverage.

 

[Aragorn]

It isn't enough to be missing, there has to be a story surrounding it or behind it that can be milked for all it's worth.

 

[TremblingBluStar]

Black, teenaged and connected to gangs? forget it - you more than likely deserved to disappear.

Well, like it or not these and other factors all come into play in cases such as this. There is inherently more drama, and thus more reasons for the media to become involved if the missing person is seen as someone innocent who did nothing to bring it upon themselves.

Take Natalie Halloway, for instance. She fit all of the categories stated above, including having a family that got the media involved. The media jumped on it because she wasn't involved in anything shady. She was doing nothing more than going on vacation - something millions of people do every year without incident.

As for the person having to be white, Lacy Peterson was definetly not white.

 

[Davros]

This thread reminds me that I saw Missing Persons in concert at the Boulder theater in 1982. It was before their album Spring Session M came out.

 

[Ariadne]

To be fair, the vast majority of people reported missing are found within 24 hours. Most fall into 3 categories:
a) not actually missing at all - are right where they're supposed to be.
b) suffer from dementia or a related condition and went 'walkabout'
c) Have left deliberately of their own accord and are fine.

Only a very small proportion fall into categories d) and e)
d) have left deliberately of their own accord and come to harm.
e) have left against their will and possibly come to further harm.

I have encountered two cases of (d), zero of (e). (a), (b) and (c) are nightly events.

Well, when the most recent Canadian Missing White Girl went missing, it wasn't an amber alert because there was (at the time) no reason to suspect foul play.

 

[startrekwatcher]

It isn't enough to be missing, there has to be a story surrounding it or behind it that can be milked for all it's worth.

Just ask Nancy Grace. Her show started out covering various crime stories. But for the last year all she has done is cover non-stop the Caylee Anthony story in Florida. She even uses the same opening that she used when the child was still missing and her body hadn't been found.

She must get really good ratings covering it but it has gotten so repetitive and one-note I don't know why anyone would watch it. Then again aging screeching harpies might not get enough of it.

 

[miraclefan]

and young.


Black, teenaged and connected to gangs? forget it - you more than likely deserved to disappear.

 

[RJDiogenes]

But, really, so many people go missing, there could be a channel dedicated to the subject.

Now that you've said it, there probably will be. The Missing Persons Network (MPN), now available on Channel 555. All missing persons! All the time!

I'm kind of surprised there isn't, actually.

 

[Lookingglassman]

Only pretty little white girls are considered worthy of endless media coverage. If you are black, asian, male, hispanic, etc then your life is not considered important enough for losers like Nancy Grace and Fox news to cover endlessly.

 

[Holdfast]

News is a business. They need stories that sell well. It's not rocket science.

 

[WillsBabe]

Well, you guys have pretty much confirmed my suspicions.