Young and white, maybe. But definitely not attractive.

If you think that Jennifer Wilbanks is attractive, you need glasses.

Where are all the articles on missing hermaphrodites? I call shenanigans!

uhh...she wasnt attractive...have you seen her stupid face on the cover of all the magazines?!?
i guess some might consider that the quintessence of hottness, but..

Attractive? Those are some pretty thick beer goggles, sir.

I've heard a couple of variations of this story, over the last few days, notbly on NPR. And I thappen to think they're all right: The media is racist, in that they think that we don't want to hear about the non-white, non-pretty ones. Perhaps not so much racist as very very narrowly-focused. They have a budget for each edition of the news after all, and they have to fill it with something that'll guarantee eyeballs. So if they're not racist, then the American media-consuming public. Or, perhaps the media only think they are...

(via FARK) - Wilbanks is "attractive" by most standards, I think. She looks young, thin, and well-groomed in most pics I've seen. This is a really good point even if it has been made before. Loads of teenagers go missing... but only the pretty blonde ones make the news. I do think that "overweight black teen from the ghetto goes missing" would barely make the local news in a lot of places, but one suburban white Mormon girl disappears and it's all over the place. Race is probably an issue for sure, but "social class is the new race" in America, IMO. And Wilbanks certainly was upper-class, with what, 600 people invited to her wedding?

Missing people are soooo sexy.
.......Did I say that outloud?

Goo goo ga joob

This is a baseless rant from an uninformed individual. Please provide proof to support your claim that ONLY young and attractive white women receive media attention when missing. What about the "precious doe" child? What about the victims of the serial killer in Louisiana(not all of them were white!)?
Also, does the media serch out missing person stories, or do the families take it upon themselves to inform the media and keep pressure on them? Again, please provide evidence to support this claim.

To stop bad journalism, 1 2 3
Here's a fresh new way that's trouble free
It's got Paul Anka's guarantee
Guarantee void in Tennessee

Just don't look, just don't look

you probably think O.J. is innocent and a black man ,funny how blacks supported him, he's a murder who turned his back on his black wife and hangs with only whites....The Race Card is old

Who'd want to go searching for the ugly fatties, anyway? Good ridence, Porky. Stay gone wich yo ugly self.
And minorities...oh shit, the friggin' world's gonna stop spinning if we don't find that missing hispanic chick. As if.

Yeah, besides, if they find the black woman that goes missing, she'll probably just commit more crimes like all black people do. Better she stay missing!

I don't think the media necessarily has racist intentions. But a combination of factors (race, class, appearance, occupation, social standing, etc.) give these women a greater appearance of innocence to the media.

The public and the media both perceive women of certain characteristics as more pure than, say a single, working mother in the inner-city.

Also, these stories follow the, "One death is a tragedy, hundreds are a statistic" rule. With the Peterson trial, the media could spend hours talking about the lives of the married couple, painting a picture of an innocent wife murdered by a deceitful husband.

Hundreds of women dying in Ciudad Juarez is harder to personify.

For an even better example, compare the Jessica Lynch story with the story of the other female POW in the Iraqi boondoggle, Shoshana Jackson. One is white, one is black. Guess who's recovery was treated like VE day? Guess who got the book deal and the made for tv movie? Guess who gets a twice as large disability check, despite both suffering permanant injuries?

Bet you can.

forealious.

wow...lotsa hate breeders here...but yeah, he may be right, on the other hand I don't give 2 flying pig asses whether the missing is Paris Hilton (epidimy of the white devil) or Star Jones (epidimy of not). Probably the only person that I would worry about if they went missing is my mom...cause she's a nice lady...I would be sad about that...but screw everyone else...if it doesn't affect me...who cares. News is propoganda to sell dishsoap. Weather and sports scores I couldn't watch. That's all

attractive or not i am sick and damn tired of every time some chick goes missing it becoming an instant national news story with 24/7 coverage. you would think based on the last few days' news coverage that little girls don't just go missing and turn up dead every day in this country.

there should definitely be a balance struck between getting the word out (doing a public service, helping find people) and the obsession of the 24/7 news media who are desparate to have anything to talk about because news is one thing that does not follow the principle of supply and demand. I personally strike that balance by turning off the g*ddamn TV.

Well. The majority of the population is white, and the majority sex (barely) is female. Which means, all other factors aside, that more white females are around to go missing. In addition, more people watching the news closesly identify with the person since they are either female, or white, and possibly female and white. That is a huge chunk of the population. Females, particularly white, will get the ratings bump not because people dislike the other groups of people but because they more likely identify with that group. It doesn't have to be racism at work, it could just be statistics.

I agree that there is some double standard with respect to American. However, as I am the egg man related, I think you're exagerating it. Furthermore, the situation with the missing women in Ciudad Juarez isn't a fair comparison, since this is happening outside the US and your rant is about the US media. I have seen it covered on my local English language news here in So. Cal.

Also, all the major networks were covering the Wilbanks story, not just Fox, so the sarcastic "Fair and Balanced?" tag at the top is just the usual, gratuitous Fox bashing.

Lerondelet, you're absolutely right. Why can't the media have meaningful, interesting stories, anymore? I'd love a nice scandal exposed or maybe some more Bushisms.

But I've gotta admit, I'll take Wilbanks over the Schiavo crap anyday.

Solution: kill your television.

/duh

What a ridiculous rant. How many white women go missing who do not get coverage? That is the key piece of information that is not included in this article. If it's race, why not white men who disappear while hunting? An eight year old could argue against this.

It's all about viewership. If there's an interesting story and mystery that can captivate the viewers and keep them glued to their TVs, the stations will air it. If a prostitute is killed, then there's no mystery, no drama, no viewers. Is it right? No. But that is what Joe Schmo America wants.

Noone seems to be addressing the fact this this was an adult who decided to leave and go on her own. When has this been decided to be a crime? Fuck the day and people who say someone has to "check in" with others before going somewhere. We all have the right to disappear if we want to - without then being scolded and held responsible for others overreaction. Perhaps we can understand more now why someone in her circumstance wouldn't have said one word to those people around her & just wanted to be left alone. Drama. Instead of persecuting her - persecute those who spent OUR time and $ hunting her down.

I dont care to see any more story's at all about missing any one in less they are under 18 because the last 2 that I can rember reading about were fakes. Just females with mental dissorders That turn up later with some crazy (Fake) story after the nation has had to read about it for a week then we have to read about being fake for another week.

what we have here is a serious case of classism. we don't talk about classism, as most don't realize it exists, but we see it every day. Yes, there may be something to the fact that these people are white, but the fact is that there is coverage of people of other races, but only mostly when they are of middle or higher classes. This is something tat we as nation need to address, but I don't see this happening for a very long time. It would take people of higher classes actually helping out instead of looking down their noses.

I think you are all missing the point. the sensational aspect of this story is she skipped out on 600 people. black, white, or purple, it doesnt really matter. I agree that the media has a fascination with attractive people but that is more a reflection of their audience than a racist issue. Just my opinion

Johnny -

Dude, did you completely miss the fact that this woman made up a kidnapping story to her family and 911, which caused the police to get involved? She didn't just run away. She fabricated a story which ended up costing taxpayer money. *That's* what she's being charged with (and it's prosecuted, not persecuted, dumbass - damn, people are stupid in this country).

This blog sucks balls

Well, let's see: how many of you are young, white, middle class, female and attractive?

I'd be more than happy to kidnap you if you are, and then we can see how long it takes for your name and face to get greenlighted on the FARK main page. ;P

The media bias definitely isn't just racially motivated, it's as much motivated by the person's looks, their status in society, and whether it will sell ad spots or more papers.

The media just want photogenic people, even if they are missing persons.

All I know is I'd hate to be ugly and go missing in our society. :P

you pay attention to the media?

Always with the race card. When will we all just be "people"

You make some very interesting points. I find the whole obsession over missing persons lately to be very odd. Did this start with Chandra Levy? Does it go further back than that?

I remember a time when it was not national news that someone went missing, unless they were famous, ala Lindberg Baby.

Perhaps I'm not remembering things correctly, but this obsession with missing people in the national media seems bizarre. Who cares?

who really wants the ugly black ones back?

You are a moron. I want my time back that I spent to read your drivel. Oh ... you are a racist too. Become part of the solution and stop being part of the problem.

We don't have a NEWS media, we have an ENTERTAINMENT media. All they want is market share. More market share means more money. If they would get market share by showing nothing but ugly skinheads, you would see nothing but missing ugly skinheads on TV. If you get your information about the world from TV you will have a very slanted, miss-informed opinion of what is going on in the world.

This is is a fully proper justification. Noone ever kidnaps ugly poor people. As Hannibal Lecter says, we covet what we see, and noone ever sees the hideous among us, they're invisible.

If the TV says it, it must be true.

Dudette...

a) you flamed the wrong person. Commenters' names appear below their comments, not above.


b) you might want to check a dictionary for the word persecuted.


I think J's usage was correct, even if he missed the point that she did, in fact, commit a crime by reporting a false kidnapping.

Hey martini mike

Johnny's use of the word "persecuted" was used appropriately, if you know the meaning of the word and the way it was used. You, apparently, are the dumb ass. But I will agree, the general public are f-king stupid and you just proved it.

This thread is useless without pics.

Dudette -

re:
"Johnny -
(and it's prosecuted, not persecuted, dumbass - damn, people are stupid in this country)."

First, you missed the fact that the posted by names are BELOW the corresonding msg...so you addressed the wrong person. It was my msg., "J"'s - you replied to - not "Johnny"'s. You also, if you had half a brain, would realize that people are quite capable of picking their own word choices. You insignificant control freak. Persecute is a word and the one which I intended to use. Read the sentence again - it's applicable. Also for your benefit (since we get along so nicely): she's been persecuted by the media, the public, her family, law enforcement and others around her. While she may be prosecuted in the future - it hasn't been decided yet; although police officals have said she won't be: http://www.11alive.com/news/upn/news_article.aspx?storyid=62472 Look who's the dumbass now. We should prosecute the crooks (media, law enforcement, you etc.) who've wasted our time & $ on this (in addition to persecute).

re:
"Dude, did you completely miss the fact that this woman made up a kidnapping story to her family and 911, which caused the police to get involved? She didn't just run away. She fabricated a story which ended up costing taxpayer money. *That's* what she's being charged with"

I didn't miss that fact - I just didn't choose to address that. It was a psychotic response to a crazy and out of control situation. All the sudden, she arrives somewhere and sees a mass, country wide search going on. The police were already involved at that point - not when she called 911...did you forget about that? Her overeactive family and friends were the ones who got the police involved in a search which began taxpayer money to be spent and used...and as the main story above points out - "the media's non-stop focus on the possible abduction of Wilbanks forced the local officials and police departments to spend thousands of dollars they would not otherwise have spent."

She hasn't been charged with anything (nor should be) but seems that you've already convicted her - looks like you're one of those "stupid people in this country" you wrote about. Now go step outside and think for awhile.

White people the majority? When are you living? Maybe years ago....with all the immagrants, legal and even more illegal, recheck your stats. The white man is the minority in this country now.

LOL, all the racist comments aside, the reason its white women missing is because most serial killers/child molesters/child abductors are white males. Therefore, white women missing, white male are the kidnappers. I think it's in the genes. Dahmer, Gacey, son of Sam. I rest my case.

People need to stop with this racism bullshit. I quite frankly am sick to f*$^in& death of hearing it. Who cares? Get over it. Both races. Both races love to think and accuse the other of being racist. Well i dont know who else agrees with me, but i am sick of it. As far as this bullshit about a missing bride? One day should have been enough. a story in the morning, and one at night. who cares if she is going to get married afterall? Does all the million people in the US really want to know? (whites and blacks alike) As far as news coverage, they do have to fill certain spots and those spots they fill in their 30 minutes or an hour on the air, they pick stories that will capture the eyes and ears of america. So what if the majority of the time its a young white female? maybe young white females are a lot of trouble? who cares? really. is the news really that big of a freakin deal? get on with your life and stop caring what other people think.

This blog is pretty ball blowing...noone makes any sense anymore, I like purple chicken rain dance...SKittle!

Nevermind, The nipple police forget the moonshine at summer's clamp

Allison: "Wilbanks is "attractive" by most standards, I think. She looks young, thin, and well-groomed in most pics I've seen."

So are some horses, yet I would not consider them attractive. Although moreso than Wilbanks.

But I agree overall with this article - it's a shame, really.

its about ratings, its not racism. The media reports on things that generate viewers. Face it, they figured out that fewer people will watch (with the ferver they did for Jennifer) if its a black person missing. Thats life, thats how it is, and you aren't going to change millions of peoples viewing habits. If it bleeds, it leads.

What war? Where?

The media is doing its job of creating extra information...

Your assessment is right on the *money*. However, we all need to remember that many if not most stories we hear in the media are put out there for one reason and one reason alone: profit.

Is this wrong? Well, without profit, these news agencies would go straight out of business. Could there be a better balance and still allow profits? Absolutely.

I think one could argue more persuasively that the news media aren't racist - they're *greedy*.

U R teh DUMM if you believe your crappy blog

I have to ask first of all how the media became aware of the story? Did her husband call them? did someone in the wedding party? Her family? Admittedly the media does and continues to have a very narrow focus with regards to what they report and how it is reported. Obviously the dollar outweighs any moral guidelines they might be required to adhere to when ratings are on the line. Now you've gt people insinuating and saying outright that the media is racist. This may be an over-exagerration but I do not believe it is baseless.

Now even the Pope is asking for the media, worldwide, to exercise some moral restraint in the way it relays the news to the public. Does anyone think the media really cares?

The story about Jennifer Wilbanks can be summed up in one word - "WASTE". A waste of time, a waste of money, a waste of brain cells burned to a cinder in the mids of everyone who spent more than 5 minutes paying this dog-faced-bug-eyed and obviously confused woman 2 seconds of attention.

She should probably milk this for all it's worth. After all, this is probably the most attention she's received since her pussy-whipped Fiance asked her to marry him.

I'll tell you why the media focuses on attractive white women...because minorities don't watch the news (they're too busy 'keepin' it real...real dumb). Just so you know, the news is not free. It’s paid for by advertisers. These advertisers focus on the people who earn the most money... white, affluent males. You want things to change, go out, get an education and start buying things. Otherwise, shut the hell up!

"but is a televised slap in the face to minority mothers and parents the nation over who search for their own missing children with little or no assistance or notice from anyone."

STFU. They also didn't have any help doing such a horrible job taking care of them, that their children are now gone. Make sure you keep racism alive by inserting it into everything you can find.

Laci Petterson is some kind of hispanic, but she was pretty and had a handsome young white husband.

I wish just half of you could spell what you're trying to say. So many people have opinions, when they should have grammar and spelling study hall. At least my parents loved me enough to make sure I actually learned at school.

WTF, that bug-eyed, emaciated old maid is *attractive*? To what, blind 50 year old virgins?

I wouldn't let my dog pee on that shit, I had assumed the groom had her killed so he wouldn't have to look at her...

Where all the white women at?

This blog is useless without pics.

First, she's not that attractive. Second, to claim that catering to your target audience as racism is absurd. Third, it has much more to do with one's social status than their race or appearance.

All this is pretty obvious. To claim racism is missing the point.

May I be the first to say that this thread is useless without pics?

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. the true point here is that no one should really give a shit about ANY missing people. cry a river you pansies.

If those pooooooer minorities would stop killing, raping, stealing and home invading long enough to matter, maybe they would git some props yo.

Hey Ablogiston - I couldn't agree with you more! I even wrote a brief entry about it myself on my own blog about a week ago - http://dreamingpurple.blogdrive.com/archive/cm-05_cy-2005_m-05_d-04_y-2005_o-0.html

I don't think racism plays a part in this story. I think her parents had a lot of influence and money. They put pressure on the media to find her. She's a little rich girl with mental problems and knows her parents have her back. That combined with it being a slow news week put her in the headlines. Having an all points bulletine in 6 different states also helps to sell the story. Some words of advice to her fiancee, dude you should run away from her and fast.

Look who's racist now, fuckface.

That Wilbanks bitch had a stinky pussy anyway. I would run away from a yeast infection also.

What about the reports of missing elderly people? I've seen quite a few stories in recent history regarding disabled eldery people of both genders and all races. Usually it's Alzheimer's to blame for their disappearances, but the point is that the media, despite their worst intentions, does report something immediately useful once in awhile.

But okay. Cable news shows are generally sensationalistic claptrap.

I find all of the women attractive. In fact, I found them so attractive I was personally involved in searching for each of the women you mentioned.

I didnt know blogistan had the military capability to find missing persons....

We are fed this crap on a daily basis because, yes, this country is primarily made up of dumb people. It's how bad music, bad tv, and the crappy stories media focuses on survives. It's here to stay becuase a majority of people in this country listen to and/or watch it, otherwise it wouldn't sell. The smart people are the ones who exploit this, the same people who make millions off of stupidity.

Wanna talk about missing the point? Try this. It's not the media's fault that only white rich pretty girls make it on TV, it's the fault of the people who turn on the news every night at 6 to watch the same BS!

Simple fact, if no one watches it the new will change what it is doing. If more people watch it, the news will continue what it is doing. When they show stuff like this, people think "Oh my, it is so sad this innocent girl..." but when a latino girl from the middle of pacoima goes missing people think "eh, she was probobly into drugs and the wrong croud" and on with their lives they go. This problem is so multifaceted an entire book could be written on it.

Everyone is ragging on Bill Cosby for telling HIS PEOPLE to get off their asses, and start doing things with their lives instead of making the excuses and perpetuating ignorance. As soon as teachers were told not to correct a black person using words like "aight"(alright minus the l) because this is part of his CULTURE! We are admitting that IGNORANCE is part of his CULTURE! That speaking incorrectly is PART OF HIS CULTURE? The white man has not been holding the minorities down since the 80s.
So when people have this predisposition to thinking of minorities as lesser value, or more apt to trouble, THERES A REASON! And you know what, it is THEIR responsobility to bring themselves above and beyond so that they can be viewed the same way. Don't sit on your couch and tell me "I just want to be viewed the same as any other person" but then continue to ignore what it is that is diffrent, like education, violence ect.

Here is the bottom line. Wan't the news to change? Stop watching it, no one person does not make a diffrence but unto themselves. If enough people do though, things will change. Want people to react diffrently to the situations as they are. Then improve your own self image, don't expect someone outside of your box to just go "oh, your right, people should be looked at without prejudice" flipping CHANGE WHAT THEY SEE so that they can TELL that theres a reason to see you the same as the white buisness man / teacher.

I think a black CEO is as good as a white CEO. I think a black teacher is as good as a white teacher. I think a white CEO is better than a black gangster. And if the majority of your "race" is going to say that being a dead beat womanizing cop killing gangster is the way you SHOULD be, and that speaking incorrectly is the way your people SHOULD speak because speaking inteligently is somehow crossing over and trying to be white, then I am going to say yes you are a lesser people all who beleive that. I would say the same to a white guy who thinks he should be a street bum instead of going to school or working. The problem is that white society does not preach that as the "propper" or "better" option. But a large portion of black society does, and franky...that is simply ignorant.

I personally don't care if all of the ugly women go missing. I avoid them anyways.

I'd do her.

Elizabeth Smart was a child. Therein lies a great difference. There is always an uproar when a child is missing, white or otherwise. I would say your argument had more strength only without including her.

You know, I agree with Jason. this is all a plot to cover up the war scandals, and not letting people know what is going on over there.

People watch the news to know what is going on in the world , i.e. with the troops over seas and the war on Iraq, but obviously the media would like to put some rich princess on just to make the white folk happy.

Snooky: You are obviously white, there are more minorities out in this country trying to make a name for themselves, but never get the chance because of the white man. But you know what? We will soon over power you and then when the minority becomes President there will actually be peace among everyone else.

And Dixie: White man was the first to commit crimes, this country is full of the white man killing blacks and people "not of their kind". F***ing skinheads! But nobody complains of them! But F*** the white man and let them all burn in HELL!!!

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