How is this a big deal?

I agree. I was actually thinking the same thing about the whole “Jennifer Hudson family shootings” thing.

I was appalled at the discovery of her nephew’s body – especially since he was so young. But then I stopped to wonder – how many times does this happen every week/day and it never makes the news?

This does not take anything away from the Hudson family whatsoever, I just wonder sometimes why similar cases to this one do not get so much media attention.

I know similar arguments were brought up around Lacy Peterson as well. Were she not a white, affluent, attractive woman would her case have received so much press? I think it was 20/20 that did a piece on another missing pregnant woman at the same time as Peterson, but she was a Hispanic, single mom in a poorer community.

I think you’ve brought up a good point skabeep. What makes the media focus only on certain tragedies (outside of the obvious reason of celebrity being involved)?

In reference to jcs’ comment about the Hudson family….

I lived in Chicago at one time. There are shootings and murders there daily.

What makes it so special? What makes the school shootings so special? It has a hook. An attention grabber. Jennifer Hudson, former American Idol, Acadmey award winner of Dream Girls, etc. etc…....Another college school shooting, etc.

Sadly it comes down to what floats to the top as far as getting eyeballs on the screen (TV or computer) for generating ad dollars for content.

Bottom line, as w/ so many other things, it comes down to $.

Where the heck do you live skabeep?! Have you considered moving? Yikes!

little rock, Arkansas. Yeah I live in the hood but it works for me. My neighbors think I’m absolutely nuts so no one bothers me or my things. I suppose I could move but it’s not that bad. I’m not a drug addict or dealer and that’s what starts probly 99.9% of shootings and robberies here

Things only make the news when they can hypothetically affect rich white people. That’s why it’s a big deal that it was on a college campus.

@bodyhead Jennifer Hudson might be on her way to rich…but she is definitely not white. Those murders also happened on “south side” of Chicago, also generally considered an area of town not dominated by whites.

I realize this example is not part of this particular question, but it is topical and definitely in heavy rotation on the news cycle.

Shootings on college campuses are rare. Shootings between druggies and their dealers on the streets of run-down neighborhoods are not.

News, by definition, is when something rare occurs. If shootings on college campuses were as frequent as they were in your neighborhood, we wouldn’t hear about them either.

I agree with what’s been said. Wondered about the Hudson thing myself. It’s a sad thing, still domestic violence happens everywhere. Her family is no different. Perhaps that will end up bringing it out more into the light.
As for the college thing…yeah, shootings happen daily—but near a school it’s big news. A lot of kids go away to college, which makes it more of a news item…it impacts ppl all over.

@jca: When tragedy strikes a seemingly charmed life it’s media gold.

I felt so bad for her, since I watched that season of AI.