why is it that only bad news about nations on the African continent make the headlines all the time?
436076
Headlines are desinged to sell newspapers.  Godd news rarely makes headlines unless it has a strong local impact.  Africa, by virtue of the fact that it's so far away, and few Americans ever travel there, will rarely have posative news reported in the papers here.\n\nI don't think it's prejudicial at all, as you will see the same tendency with respect to South and Latin America, Asia, Australia and most of Europe.  Even parts of the United States rarely receive posative press in other regions.  It's just the way news is sold.
404115
No. Nobody cares about Africa sad but true.
391807
They use words like "The U.S. once again has...." because the U.S. once again HAS...... The media seems to be more to the left because most journalism is liberal. It has to be or it would be judging everybody. O.K. seriously, most mainstream news doesnt report good things because good news isnt interesing. Do you remember when Clinton was in office they were just as rough on him. That is the job of the media, to investigate and report. Maybe it seems they are reporting a lot of bad because there is. If you are looking for righty news try a.m. talk radio stations, its what my husband does.
688502
There are many arguements about this area. It is clear that the biggest disaster in Africa are the governments who are almost all completely corrupt and the widespread wars. \nThe best example of government impoverising a country is Zimbabwe. This country used to be an exporter of food, under the current corrupt regime of Mugabe people are dying of starvation.\nSouth East Asia 30 years ago had a similar poverty situation as countries in Africa, with little foreign aid they now have economies that work and have raised their standards of living for many of their people.\nThe worst case of foreign aid is the Palestinians, they have recieved more aid per head than any country in the world, the money has been taken by Arafat and the police to buy guns and bombs to kill. The people are now much poorer than 20 years ago when they had no foreign aid.
640838
Unfortunately television is the way most people get their news...there are all sorts of issues that we Americans went forever without hearing turmoil in Sri Lanka...mass genocide in Africa just be glad that TV still gives some issues a voice otherwise everyone in this country that didn't read would be clueless...
442981
While this is disturbing, it is is not surprising.\nSimilar things have taken place in other African nations, especially Sierra Leone.\n\nSpeaking of good books on Africa, Paul Rusesbagina (of Hotel Rwanda fame) has a new book called "An Ordinary Man."\nAn interesting book on a terrible time.
376309
Don't know. However there have been a lot of scams involving banks that supposedly exist on the African Continent.
899820
I am not from the Middle East, but I can say that there has been fighting oging on there for decades!!!  The only reason that we hear more of it now is because in between reports of Janet Jacksons boob flash and how much weight Kirstie Alley lost, the media has to report on something.  There is violence going on like that of the middle east in other places too.  Take a look of the continent of Africa, it's one messed up place to be living too!!!  It's just that the Media hasn't found a focus their to report on yet!
911523
No the truth is that other countries have much tighter control over their media so it's not very likely that other countries are going to get the full story.
581206
Everyone please wake up! I am from SA and there are no wars\nor such stuff going on here! The only war that is going on here is the war against AIDS and poverty. So please get your facts correct before you try to answer something about another country.
1069266
Because it happened in America to Americans.\n\nMost of the new coverage I saw that day was by American stations.\n\nAmerica is like people, we're concerned with oursleves first, from there it spirals out- me, my family, my country, my world.\n\nWhat happened, is happening, in Africa is sad, but, I hate to say it, there is not here.
1000841
First of all, you are the most ignorant and closed minded person I have ever come across. \nSecondly, what is your definition of far? 'Far' is relative to where you reside and how close the African continent is to you. \nThird, if you would actually read and find out more about other countries, you would realise that all of Africa is not about wars and starvation. There are 53 countries in Africa and the western media chooses to focus on the 4 or so countries that are embroiled in war to show their ignorant citizens who do not know any better. \nFourth, it is because of ignorant bigots like you that is why FIFA has chosen to rotate the WC amongst continents so that your eyes and your mind can be open to the rest of the world instead of your little corner which you think is the whole world.\n\nYes, I am from a country in the African continent and I see this as an affront, but I should not, because you are an ignorant bigot who will probably turn out to be zenophobic as well.\n\nP.S. This rant is for only the person who was unsensitive enough to ask this question. I know there are people in the west who actually venture out of their front doors  and out of their countries.
723438
This world is a beautiful and wonderful place and we are all guilty of forgetting or ignoring this at times. Sometimes we are so spoiled that we don't take in the beauty that is around us. We always hear the bad news more than the good news. The news is always full of acts of war and racism, while every day there are thousands of people displaying acts of kindness and hard work and determination.One day it will all be gone... and it will be too late to do anything about it.
86942
It is not ok for any of those thinf and i will grant you the Iraq invaded Kuwait was world news, but the other things get notice too\n\n1. america vs. mexico in the amercain-maexicanwar of 1848.\n\n2. for many years people have want to free tibet, have you ever heard of the concert for tibet music artist form thime to time.\n\n3. For Half a century or more blood shed has spill in cyprus.\n\n4. Many people including the UN have condem morrocao of do this to western sahara.\n\n5. since 1920 thousand of people have died in nothern ireland and it is well knows and try to stop it and whats happen there is world news.\n\n6. 1980's there was a reblion in the falkand and the britsih stop and it was the news alot.\n\n7. England and spain for 20 years have fought for gibraleter and it is world news.\n\nIt is not how the world see it, it is how america see it thats what you have a problem with.
229191
The main issue in Africa is tribalism.  It has caused many problems in the past and current day.  Until they are able to get past this major obstable, Africa will stay in this state of confusion and chaos.  Nothing is being done by Africans or its governments to solve this problem.
69186
There is no information presented in the media about Venezuela on the news today.  Unless you watch the 24 hour news stations you wouldn't even know that South America and Africa existed.  On the 24 hour news stations you might get a few seconds of coverage when CNN takes a break from non-stop Natalie Holloway coverage, or Fox stops apologizing for Bush. \n\nActually there is probably more coverage of South America on the Daily Show than anywhere else.  Isn't that sad?
553014
The American government isn't doing anything to help Africa at all. There are American Christian organizations that send aid to Africa like the Red Cross from the Catholics. The Bible belt doesn't give them anything they are just cheating the public, and lining there pocket's for themselves. TV Evangelists are scam artists, that money never gets to the poor people of Africa,(They are thieves). That is why the problem never gets any better.