Friday, December 21, 2007

What's news? What isn't news enough? What were the top 10 "underreported" stories for 2007? Some of my students think any good news from Iraq was underreported. However, nothing about Iraq or the "War on Terror" made it onto Time magazine's list of the 10 most underreported stories. Some would argue that good news is always "underreported," because good news just isn't as newsworthy. The headline Time assigned to one of the items begins with "Deja Vu," but the phrase could fit others. The magazine's website offers the listed items one per page, but if you just want a quick idea of whether you agree or not, here they are: More than 1 million Somalis fled their homes in a refugee crunch whose severity rivals that of Darfur. For the first time in nearly 40 years, nuclear bombs flew over U.S. airspace on the wings of a bomber. The United Nations overestimated the people infected with HIV by some 6.3 million. (Total still over 33 million) Federal officials engaging in partisan political activities. Extensively drug-resistant TB: 41 countries have confirmed cases. An African country's economy is growing at twice the rate of China's. (Quiz: Which one?) Child obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., but the adult rate has levelled off. The largest oil discovery worldwide since 2000 could rival Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. (Quiz: Where?) Congress continues to tack on "earmarked" funds for pet projects despite pledges to the contrary. The International Crisis Group says Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea have at least 200,000 troops poised for battle. The Poynter Institute has launched a discussion in response to Time's list, asking... "What stories should have made this list? Which ones shouldn't have? And what do you think constitutes an underreported story?" Join the Poynter discussion forum here 7:14:21 PM    comment []

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