The most important story is about what?

A missing plane?

Or threats to our democracy? Saw this at DailyKos today.

If you don't know what this refers to, you've not been watching or reading the news, because the story has been there.

But it is not still in the news, because a plane is still missing. And, oh yeah, there is still random acts of violence and tragedy:

BREAKING NEWS: SOUTH KOREA FERRY CAPSIZES

292 still missing

Scores of students were on the boat

A ferry carrying about 459 people, including 325 students, sank off South Korea. Four bodies have been found and 164 people have been rescued. "The water was so cold and I wanted to live," a student says. FULL STORY

• Survivors tell of panic aboard | Photos
• Stay safe and share images

So what is in the news today?

How about a missing plane? A potential civil war in Ukraine. Oh yeah, and random violence.

CNN's lead story:

Sonar sub's hunt cut short

Phone detected as jet vanished

The first mission of an underwater vehicle was aborted hours early, and a U.S. official says the phone of the jet's co-pilot was detected as the plane disappeared. FULL STORY

 

Fox News:

 

• Reuters

  'ON THE BRINK': Ukraine moves to drive out pro-Russian forces in east

  UKRAINE LAUNCHES military operation to quash a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern cities where several government buildings have been seized, while a self-defense unit (above) protects the Ukrainian parliament building in Kiev, as Moscow declares Ukraine on the brink of civil war. 
  
  
  
  
  ABC News:
  
  
  
  Boston Marathon: A Year Later

  A timeline of events from the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy.

   

  NY Times:

   

  

  Reuters

  Bullets, Blood, Then a Cry of ‘Heil Hitler’

  By STEVEN YACCINO and DAN BARRY

  Until Sunday’s shootings outside two Jewish community facilities, Frazier Glenn Miller had been vocal about his views that Jews should be killed, but had not acted on them.

  Apparent Anti-Jew Hate Crime Instead Hits Christians

 

 

Ah, disaster ...

We rely on you so much.

You make us feel so much better about our lives.

Though you make us feel insecure, without you, we'd only focus on the trivial things and not remember the importance of just being alive!

Without you, we'd have only this:

• Wild Walmart fight breaks out  
• Stun gun used in Black Friday brawl   

But because of you, we have:

Survivors share horror of Bronx derailment

'Gravel came flying up in our faces'

Even though the train was careening around a curve, Amanda Swanson felt the wreck in slow motion. "The train felt like it was on its side and dragging for a long time," she said. FULL STORY

• Survivor's harrowing story  
• Passenger: I started seeing stars  
• Bronx train derailment  

 

 

• Reuters

  Speed, brakes focus of crash probe

  INVESTIGATORS FOCUS on whether a New York commuter train was going too fast when it derailed Sunday, killing four people and injuring 60, and will also consider whether mechanical problems — such as brake failure — played a role in the crash.
• PHOTOS: Rescue crews comb over scene of derailment | VIDEO: Speed focus of probe in deadly train accident
• VIDEO: NTSB recovers data recorder | Accident latest woe for Metro-North | Updates on Metro-North schedules
• New Mexico train derailment kills 3 workers| Woman leaves dying infant to bring help to plane crash site

 

 

Amazing how a disaster pushes all other news aside

It's like a reminder--literally from above--of what is important.

In this case, it's a tornado.

Now, IT is the only news that matters.

For example, from CNN:

Searching 'board by board'
24 dead including 9 kids

• Rescuers in Moore, Oklahoma, in frantic hunt for survivors

• "This is a tough community," Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb says
• Looks like a "two-mile-wide lawnmower blade" hit DEVELOPING STORY

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEVASTATED

Dad's desperate race to reach son's school 1:26

Kids huddled in school's hallways 2:25

Tearful reunions as children emerge 1:59

THE TORNADO AND ITS AFTERMATH

Guy who took video 'blessed to be alive' :55

Daybreak reveals disaster's magnitude

Surprised survivor finds dog on TV 2:12

Frantic search; heartbreaking find 1:35

Watch as deadly tornado takes shape :51

Follow twister's deadly 40-mile path

And from Fox:

DEADLY TWISTER HITS HEARTLAND
Rescue teams search rubble for survivors after tornado kills at least 24

Oklahoma City officials lower tornado death toll to 24, which includes 9 children, as rescue efforts continue after monster storm destroys homes, buildings and an elementary school.

HOW YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY OKLAHOMA TORNADO

Deadly Tornado Tracked Path of 1999 Oklahoma Twister | Missouri City Devastated By 2011 Twister Aids Oklahoma

Photog Describes Rescuers Pulling Kids Out of Rubble | VIDEO: Photog Captures Images of Heroic Effort

Worried Parents Seek Out Kids at Oklahoma School | VIDEO: Rescuers Search for Kids Trapped in School

VIDEO: 'Loudest Noise I Ever Heard' | Obama: We Will Be There | How Is Twister Formed? | JOIN THE LIVE CHAT

PHOTOS: Tornado Tears Through Oklahoma | Deadly Tornadoes in US History | EXTREME WEATHER CENTER

Just yesterday, right before the storm, the news was scandal this, scandal that (mostly imagined and not legitimate), especially on Fox. In fact, it took Fox at least two hours after the storm hit to change its website to the storm as the lead story.

The phenomenon of media coverage of disasters helps us understand why crime is so attractive to the media, as well.

Random.
Violent.
Deadly.

= news