Why does the media continue to cover traumatic news events?

[George S. McQuade III]

Most often stories you see repeated on TV or hear on the radio have either have loose ends with lots of drama and visuals. Most often it is a story that impacts a wide range of people emotionally or physically.

Two years ago the news directors in town agreed to stop showing stolen car chases and police pursuits on live TV during the newscasts. But as soon as November Sweeps month started, the live helicopters moved in again. Wildfires are probably the most dramatic and either impact viewers directly, because it could happen to them or they might have to evacuate, and Santa Anas make things worse. People are fascinated with trauma on TV, and TV producers thrive on drama, and getting it first, or having a new angle or exclusive new development on the story. The problem with TV, if it is a mysterious overdose of drugs they have to continue showing the coroner bringing out the dead body. The tabloid, blogs and entertainment shows have help change the way we look at things, and TMZ that went from web to TV is a good example of the transition. More emerging technology later. What do you think?