[xsmommy]

she is/was pregnant. that tugs at heartstrings. there is overwhelming public interest, and so the news will continue to cover it. didn't you read about how many hits the laci peterson website has been getting, from all over the world?

[Lee'sGhost]

Two things, I think:

1) It's a classic mystery and everyone thinks they know who did it.

2) Waxing your pregnant wife seems to be a particularly horrible thing to do, thus it garners more interest.

[geege]

What I'm sick of is freaky Micheal Jackson that Fox keeps talking about......I just change the channel when I hear the name......ditto for their Hollywood news also..

[AntiGuv]

Count me in full agreement...

[dep]

because she disappeared on christmas eve, which is a very slow news day. for the same reason, the jon benet ramsey thing has plagued us for years -- she was killed on christmas. it is entirely a matter of timing. at cbs, when i was there, we would latch onto something like this just to get away from the standard holiday thumbsuckers -- the arrival of christmas, after all, being a fairly predictable, fairly consistent event and therefore not really news.

dep

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

This story is the Chandra Levy of 2003. The upcoming war with Iraq/acts of terrorism will almost certainly push this story way into the background. If we suffer an attack like 9/11, we'll probably long for the innocent days of Laci Peterson and Michael Jackson's creepy lifestyle.

[leadpencil1]

Same thoughts here. Seems like one network decides it will help ratings and then all are forced to cover it, to the point of going way overboard. Like when they have the talking heads going on and on and on. I turn the channel and watch how the giant two toed sloth of South America feeds at night until the news returns to something different.

Thank god for picture in picture.

[JennysCool]

We sometimes get into the habit of thinking "news" has to be some big international event. This one has mystery to spare, sympathy for the woman and her child, a lead suspect-who-is-not-officially-a-suspect, two families becoming increasingly at odds, a massive search, and the kind of middle American milieu where you think these things "aren't supposed to happen." This kind of stuff has been big news since the media began with cave paintings!

[goldstategop]

The big deal? It could be your wife and child. That's why Laci Peterson's fate has evoked such universal human interest. We identify with her because it could happen any time to a loved one in our family, whether its a spouse or a child.

[Capt. Tom]

Many Americans have a soap opera mentality, and if you can work soap opera stories into the news you will have an audience.

Remember the incredible reaction to Princess Dianna when she died in an auto accident. I saw some women that took it as though Dianna was a friend of the family. Dianna led a soap opera life for many Americans. - Tom

[el_texicano]

My appreciation to all how have (and will respond). Your answers are appreciated and they do help me understand this a bit more. (Though I still am sick of hearing about it.) Kudos to all.

[John H K]

It's like she was the daughter of the President or something. But she's not. Wife in a middle class family. There's nothing that makes this special other than the fact that she was pregnant. (Is that it??)

You left out white, very attractive, and at least "middle" middle class or "upper middle" middle class, it seems. (No, I haven't read any of the stories but you can't escape her picture or the first few sentences of the 80 billion stories.) Believe me, that helps sell the story, though people may not like that pointed out around here. But you're correct in that the MAIN thing is that she's pregnant.

As outhers have mentioned, it's the "soap opera" aspect, and also the fact it's a personalized, individualized story, which makes it very compelling for women, especially. It's a contrast to a big, complicated story like Iraq and the news channels know it sells to women sick of Iraq.

[kidd]

I'm in agreement.

Add Jon Bennett Ramsey to the list.

I think its due to lazy news coverage. I also tend to think that there's subtle racism by the medisa...do you think if a pregnant black woman was missing that there would be this kind of coverage? Or if a cute black six year old was found murdered, do you think Larry King would have a panel on at least once a week to cover the issue? I don't think so.

[RGSpincich]

Forgive me any and all, but I just don't get it. Maybe someone out there can enlighten me as to why this news story is as important as the pending war in Iraq where God knows how many of our brave military may have to lay down their lives to protect us.

Geez, do you love all your children or just the one that you think is the most important? Many of us live in the Modesto/Berkeley vicinity and have access to information related to the Laci Peterson case and we are able to add to the media coverage. The story has captivated some, so what? We, also, care about our military, don't you try to imply that we don't.

Hopefully, somebody can post a clue for you.

[spectre]

Is the terror alert "high"...yes.

Do we know there is a war coming? Yes.

Today, we are told to stock pile water, have duct tape, and have extra food and supplies in the house.

Yes, we are ALL keenly aware of the WAR, and possible attack on our country.

Does this mean we shouldn't look for a "killer" out there? We shouldn't discuss this, because we need to be focused on the war and nothing else?

Really, it only proves most of us can walk and chew gum at the same time.

sw

[Jael]

It's the baby angle. Plus, it's a very sad story. But mostly what tugs at my heart strings is her lillte baby.

[tje]

Do you think it's really Laci that's the news? What if her husband was black or hispanic? Do you think it would get the same coverage? (OJ doesn't count, fame and all...)

[runningbear]

I guess you can still not get it, as long as you keep a closed mind. There are many reasons, but ultimately, a rehash of an OJ Simpson saga... Crime, murder, sex lies and video ... lure the general public to try to solve a mystery...... ;o)

[SheLion]

I really don't have the answer to this, except if you notice when the news media gets their teeth sunk into a story, that's all they can talk about.

Also, remember the 4 college students that came up missing out west around Halloween. Remember them? 3 guys and a girl. They just disappeared off of the face of the earth.

Wonder why the news media stopped reporting on THEM? Strange.

[ewing]

I believe the evasiveness of Scott the husband is driving the story, without him there wouldn't be much to cover.