The "ideal victim"

One of the victims of the tragic attack on Rep. Giffords in Arizona is a nine-year old girl (this hits close to home with me because I have a nine-year old daughter).

Media accounts are now focusing on her life. She is, as is argued in the book, the "ideal victim" -- young, white, female, pretty.

Research shows these victims receive the most media attention (even though they are the least likely to be victimized).

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/us/10green.html?_r=1&WT.mc_id=US-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-NYO-010911-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

In fairness to the New York Times, at least they tell us who the other victims are:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/01/09/us/20110109-arizona-shooting-victims.html?ref=us

Oh, and did I mention that she was born on 9/11? (see the story: born on a tragic day, died in a tragic event?)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/09/arizona.shooting.girl/index.html?hpt=T2