What is the most important but underreported story of 2006?

#1

Even in today's media heavy world, or perhaps because of the numerous communication avenues that we are faced with... there are many news sories that break and seem to dissappear; either pushed aside by the media obsession du jour or released on some obscure channel that just doesn't seem to pick up any additional coverage or hype.
So here is my 3 part question for you: What news story from the past year (2006) do you feel didn¢¢¬¢ž¢t get enough attention from the press, why is it important, and why do you think it's coverage was less than optimal? Remember, there are no wrong answers here. This is a question of opinion and not an excuse for debate.

#2

Damn, interesting...

Do you mean in general, or on a global perspective..? I'll say, anything positive is underreported...Seems like every 5 fucking minutes, some negative story surfaces...Meanwhile, something really newsworthy is pushed to the back...

I kinda addressed this in a previous rant in this forum...Guys are bashing GWB left and right, talking about how much he sucks, but when and if there is good things that he and his administration have seen through, nobody bothers to write that...So, we hear all about how his foreign policy fails, but nothing when it does as intended...

We obviously realize nothing in this world is perfect, funny we seem to want to ignore that in the media...

Sorry to dance around your question st4, but I really don't know how to answer it right off the bat...

#3

No problem, Ayhja, You got the general point.

For me the most important, but underreported story of 2006 is the War in Iraq....

"the Hell" you say? You think it's over covered? Let me explain...

I agree that the war is well covered, at least on the negative side...but the reporting is FAR FROM BALANCED.

I bet there are a ton of great things that happen every day..but do we EVER see the positives? Rarely if ever... When was the last time you saw something along the lines of "a bridge was built today that will allow for ____...." ??? But I guarantee you all saw the "another 3 marines died today in Iraq, the result of inadequate equipment...".

#4

Exactly my point, except better said...Far from balanced reporting is what I'm hinting at...I have a cousin on the front lines, he told me first hand how things were handled...I was sad he was recently called back into duty, but PROUD of the things he told me, all the things that they'd done flawlessly...

I bet, that if a cross reference was done between this war and wars past, this war would make other wars seem like blood baths...

Every once in a while, I'd like to read, "55th Infantry has record of 98 days without a single incident or casualty," instead of this utter ignorance we are going through...

Bot · #5

On that issue... My dad works at General Dynamics. They make all kinds of military weapons for different countries, mainly the U.S. My dad's plant is building the Stykers right now.

Anyway. One of the guys working at the plant has a son serving in Afghanistan, and he printed off an e-mail he received and showed it to my dad.

It was definitely an interesting read. I don't think people really understand what's going on over there. A lot of people like to sit in their chairs and watch the evening News and bitch about this and that...

This kid was supposed to go on a three day mission, and he ended up staying in the field for about two weeks, going from one city to another. He had to deliver to supplies to this group, help battle an insurgency with that group. It was intense.

As for the most important story... I wouldn't really say it was under-reported, not in Canada anyway. The NDP's flip flop on Canada's mission in Afghanistan. They supported it in the beginning, but now that things are getting intense, and more Canadians are dying, well, suddenly it's the wrong mission for Canadians. That issue seriously pissed me off, and it actually led me to vote for the Conservatives in the by-election we just had. I had voted NDP in the previous two elections.

#6

You two are both right. The same boat that delivered bombs to Japan to defend against North Korea if need be delivered books to youth shelters in Singapore and relief to kuwait. No one will ever see the real military on the news. It's why I quit watching the news... Because did you notice at the same time war footage started being shown, news media agencies decided that they could go for profits, not profiles.

That is the difference between CBS news and them cats. Back in World War II, they operated at a loss, and were not considered a profit center by the network. Do you know there is a going rate for getting your advertising on the TV at the same time for images of men who volunteered to serve, and if need be, kill and DIE? That to me, is the worst atrocity against the values of the US Military Force. Do you know CNN raised their advertising rates during hurricane Katrina's aftermath, and didn't kick that money back down to New Orleans?

Did you know news media programmers are starting to create the sequence of stories around WHEN the most severe stories happen. "So, you wanna advertise, huh? Ok, do you want that spot between the economy and the child abduction, or up the ante, and pay for the spot between the child abduction and the dangers of Iran's nuclear ambitions?" that is sick...

I listen to talk radio, all sides, and read as much as I can. them talking heads are all like stands upon which corporations raise their billboards, and the current events are like the highways near where they post their signs.

I have thought long and hard about this, and I honestly think the most underreported story I can think of is the profound confirmation that soy food bases have NO nutritional or health value, and indications show that can and often does lead to atrophy of the brain, resulting in dementia. The only value it has is relieving hunger pains. The majority of "acitivists" favour soy over dairy and meat. They also don't exercise, which also leads to dementia, as was revealed this year. QUIT LETTING DEMENTED PEOPLE FIGHT FOR A POSITION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

#7

Quite frankly I haven't really watched the news at all this year, or much at all for many years.

QUOTE(raum @ Dec 7 2006, 12:53 AM) That is the difference between CBS news and them cats. Back in World War II, they operated at a loss, and were not considered a profit center by the network. Do you know there is a going rate for getting your advertising on the TV at the same time for images of men who volunteered to serve, and if need be, kill and DIE? That to me, is the worst atrocity against the values of the US Military Force. Do you know CNN raised their advertising rates during hurricane Katrina's aftermath, and didn't kick that money back down to New Orleans?

Did you know news media programmers are starting to create the sequence of stories around WHEN the most severe stories happen. "So, you wanna advertise, huh? Ok, do you want that spot between the economy and the child abduction, or up the ante, and pay for the spot between the child abduction and the dangers of Iran's nuclear ambitions?" that is sick...

For that very reason.

That's why I cannot suggest what I think is the most under-reported story of 2006.

QUOTE(raum @ Dec 7 2006, 12:53 AM) ...soy food bases have NO nutritional or health value, and indications show that can and often does lead to atrophy of the brain, resulting in dementia. The only value it has is relieving hunger pains. The majority of "acitivists" favour soy over dairy and meat. They also don't exercise, which also leads to dementia, as was revealed this year.

Although that IS news to me (thanks Raum), it solidified my gut feeling-> I always thought soy food bases weren't as good as cracked up to be, in fact, more bad than good. So much for fokin vegematarian hippies- stick to your vegies!

#8

just this week I had some veggie replacement of prepared minced meat made with carrots. I was surprised how close to the real thing that tasted.

that being said: I could have had more on ITER - the last intermediate step towards nuclear fusion / clean and abundant energy. It also is one of the projects which thinks beyond borders, which bridges gaps. Stories like that would counterbalance the division this world is perceived to be in.

all you hear is war and destruction. the good stuff just hardly makes the headlines.

#9

QUOTE(Brains @ Dec 8 2006, 10:55 AM) just this week I had some veggie replacement of prepared minced meat made with carrots. I was surprised how close to the real thing that tasted.

that being said: I could have had more on ITER - the last intermediate step towards nuclear fusion / clean and abundant energy. It also is one of the projects which thinks beyond borders, which bridges gaps. Stories like that would counterbalance the division this world is perceived to be in.

all you hear is war and destruction. the good stuff just hardly makes the headlines.

I love me some carrots. leventy-wun fo sho. and i have had some good vegetable meat imitations. but soy is drek.

the ITER stuff is more than most people want to know, but there are ways to get ahold of it.

the news is bad for a simple reason.

Bad news is something you just have to know.... Good news is something you have to use.
and most people are, for all purposes of world events, happy being useless.

#10

QUOTE(raum @ Dec 9 2006, 06:07 AM) leventy-wun fo sho. and i have had some good vegetable meat imitations. but soy is drek.

What??

What on earth does drek mean? Or "leventy-wun fo sho"?

QUOTE(raum @ Dec 9 2006, 06:07 AM) and most people are, for all purposes of world events, happy being useless.

That just tells me that they're all crazy. I got depressed from feeling useless..................................