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Dec
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November 25, 2007 — I’ve often been left fascinated – and disturbed – by what makes TV news.
What makes big news? What makes less news? And what makes almost no news at all?
For example, if three local, young white men were charged in the racially motivated, beating death of an illegal African immigrant – the father of eight, no less – what kind of news would that make?
That would make huge news. It not only would lead all local newscasts, it likely would make national newscasts – at or near the top. As well it should.
But last week, after three young black men were arrested in Plainfield, NJ, charged in the robbery and beating murder of an illegal immigrant from Guatemala and police said the married father of eight was targeted because he was Hispanic, the story scarcely made a sound.
In fact, I knew nothing about it until last Sunday, when I read an AP report in a New Jersey newspaper, albeit just six paragraphs on Page 6. Another, larger NJ newspaper carried 15 paragraphs about the arrests in the murder, on Page 36.