Over the course of our research I have found this to be true: Stories that involve celebrities are inherently more likely to be covered and blown up on the news. This doesn't come without explanation, it is evident that many more people will likely tune in if a story concerns one of their favorite TV icons or actors. Obviously, a news station is a business and ratings are important. However, the ethics behind this truth are very twisted.
I've counted numerous stories where someone famous has been affected by something crime related and it is reported on WAVE, even if the crime is small and insignificant. For example, Tyson Gay's daughter was recently shot in Lexington. Though it did occur in Kentucky, WAVE 3 is a local station. More importantly, shootings occur all the time. Usually they receive one quick story, but sometimes not even. But WAVE has published as many as 8 stories on this event thus far. Why? Because it is about someone famous. One story would have been acceptable in my opinion, because it is more than just a shooting when you think about it. This girl could have been targeted because of her father's involvement in the Olympics (which is of world-wide importance), or even because of her being black. Both possibilities are controversial, and can be tied to other things of equal importance. But really, 4 stories is too much for one person getting killed.
Here is a link to the page where all of the current stories on Tyson Gay's daughter can be found: http://www.wave3.com/search?vendor=ez&qu=tyson+gay+daughter
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