[MMM]

I think you are a little off the money, Alan. Sadly, things like this happen in Europe and Asia as well. The way the media focuses on things has changed. It used to be a one hour news day, but now we live in a 24 hour news day. That means channels like CNN need to be reporting something at all times.

Still, I think in some ways the Japanese tabloid media is worse in this respect. I remember one rather violent incident involving the murder of a young boy not far from where I lived, and the tabloid media kept it as the opening story literally for weeks.

Sensational stories will get sensational coverage, but lets not confuse the media with the event (and I am not necessarily talking to you, Alan).

I don't think it is an "American" vs. "European" thing, I think that is oversimplifying things.