I start my mornings, before getting out of bed, with a quick glance a Google News. That’s where I first read the name Gabby Petito. Something about her disappearing. I didn’t read the details. I was more interested in other news, including the then-pending “J6 Justice” protest, hurricanes, Congress, migrants in Texas, and a few other things.
But Petito’s name kept showing up. That prompted me to read more. I now know that the story includes her disappearance while on a cross-country tour with her fiancé, domestic violence, some kind of mental health call to arms, a disappearing fiancé, and discovery of her body The story is still developing, but it appears Petito was murdered by a violent fiancé, who is now a “person of interest” who could face murder charges and is claimed to be somewhere on some massive Florida nature preserve. We know Petito died tragically, but just don’t know the details, yet.
Petito’s apparent murder is tragic, but why so much coverage? To me, at least, there are several answers, not all of them reflecting well on our society.
First, Petito was a young white woman. I wonder if we would be reading dozens of stories about her if she had been poor and a person of color. Dare I say that that the media is demonstrating racism by focusing on Petito’s disappearance while effectively ignoring murders and disappearances of dozens of other people?
Second, the Petito story reads like a murder mystery The media has focused on it because it is easy to understand. If the fiancé is the “bad guy,” he is easy to hate. He was witnessed slapping Petito and has since disappeared. Stories like Petito’s get people’s attention much easier than things like the debate over the Biden infrastructure bill or the huge crowd of migrants living under a bridge in Texas.
Third, is domestic violence. As a society, we are becoming less tolerant of it. The fact that the finance physically abused Petito gets our attention. Some of us relate more to domestic violence victims than to murder victims. That has heightened interest in the story.
None of the above makes light of the fact that a woman was apparently murdered. That alone should heighten our awareness of the problem of domestic violence. Did you know that 500,000 woman are physically assaulted or raped by an intimate partner in the U.S. each year? A 2018 UN report found that worldwide 50,000 woman are killed each year by intimate partners.
Do you recall seeing similar news coverage of any other domestic abuse/murder case this year? I don’t.
So, what to make of the Gabby Petito case? First, we should all be saddened by her murder but should remember that she is but one of thousands of domestic violence victims. We need to take the problem of domestic violence more seriously and press government to do more to combat it.
Second, we should be angry that the press does not publicize all crimes equally. Bias should not be tolerated. If Black lives matter, it should be reflected in what news we see.
Finally, the press must enhance coverage of “boring news” like politics and government. One of the reasons things are not going well in Washington is because too few of us understand the nuances of current events. The media must step up its efforts to inform an educated citizenry with “just the facts”.
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and occasionally goldendoodles.
Stephen Schaare says
Mr. Dean, Yes, I am troubled with what the media chooses to cover and emphasize. You claim the media is racist for covering Petito while ignoring the “migrants” under the bridge in Texas. Without FOX news, you would not even know about the human tragedy in Del Rio. There, I said FOX news. The other stations were shamed into mentioning the matter. Oh yes, other crime that gets no coverage is the ongoing killing of black people in Chicago and other cities. This past weekend was pretty weak. Only 54 shot and nine killed, including another 4 year old. No biggie. Time to yawn.
Oh, allow me to mention the sad irony of unintended consequences regarding the impact of proposed mandates on vaccination. The CDC confirms the least vaccinated demographic is “communities of color “. Last week, Mr. Biden stated that “people of color have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid” True enough, but he did not say it was due to not receiving the shots. On the very same day, spokesperson Jen Psaki blamed Republicans for our inability to close the final distance. “We did not expect such resistance from Republicans”. Not a word, nary a peep about the dismal vaxx rate in communities of color. Yes, Mr. Dean, I would like more balanced coverage
So, what happens? Sad, tragic irony. The people Joe Biden has tried to help and lift up will suffer the worst(disproportionately) with mandates. I am speaking of employment and social activities here.
To bring it home, just a few days ago, three women of color were refused admittance to a NYC restaurant. Did did not have the required “vaxx passport”. What happened? The three women beat up the asian hostess at Carmine’s eatery in Manhattan.
A minority population that has been through so much already is further alienated and disenfranchised. Bad policy, Mr. Biden. Mandates are unacceptable, Sir. Please change your mind.
So, Mr. Dean, a special day indeed. I agree with you wholeheartedly on the rather odd way the media choose what stories to cover. Be well-Steve
John Dean says
Steve: I’m not sure how to respond to your comment, there is a lot in there. So let me just thank you for reading the piece.
I agree with you that some news outlets go out of there way to avoid covering events that they believe are out of sync with their viewership. I see this on both the right and left sides . . .
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Darrell, Migrants are those who go through the legal process of immigration. This is very often a lengthy matter. This includes lots of paperwork, meaningful background checks and several fees. These hordes at the southern border are, therefore, not migrants. Be well-Steve
Joe Gamble says
J.E. Dean,
I agree with your comments regarding the lack of coverage. Few cover the atrocities that take place in our urban centers every day. No mention of the 461 shootings and 105 murders in Chicago in July or the 43 bodies found along the Arizona border last month. No mention of the 4,000 to 5,000 more citizens that were murdered last year compared to the year before…a 25% increase. Real reporters would be asking the tough questions of those we elect. Sadly, reporters have gone to their political corners.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Joe, Wow and thank you. I feel much less alone. Your contribution is priceless. Amen.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. I share your concern with the decision of the media not to cover shootings and other violence in Chicago and other cities.
I appreciate your reading the piece.
Reed Fawell says
Fine comments getting to truth at long last.
Darrell Parsons says
Mr. Schaare, For what it’s worth I never watch Fox News. In fact I don’t watch any news. I do read newspapers. Guess what…I have for some time been reading a lot about the migrants in Texas. I suspect in fact, that I’m as well-informed about the migrant situation as you are. I’m curious as to why you used quotes around the word “migrants”?