Quote Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud
....The spectacular car bombs, the massive attacks, you just don't see them anymore. A drip, drip story that's getting a little better day by day doesn't make a headline."

CNN's Michael Ware calls it "audience fatigue." Other journalists, who have risked their lives covering the war, complain that Americans aren't paying attention to their stories on Iraq.
We are, collectively, otherwise occupied... and that is no one's fault but our own. Letting the big boys handle the mess in Iraq without our interference (or, even, attention) leaves Joe Voter more time for the REALLY important things in life.
American Idol: Official FOX Site

Edit: Lest this come off as overly trite, my point is that we are conditioned to expect our news to be entertaining. CNN gained notice for following the First Gulf War in live-action explosions style. Fox carries on the tradition... and provides us with other shiny colorful shows just in case it's a slow explosion day. The matador waves his cape, and the bull goes charging off in the other direction.

If you have a couple hours to spare out of your busy evening television lineup, turn the thing off and read the book "Amusing Ourselves To Death" by Neil Postman. It's damning. Even Sesame Street takes a bit of a beating.