A damsel must be white. This requirement is nonnegotiable. It helps if her frame is of dimensions that breathless cable television reporters can credibly describe as "petite," and it also helps if she's the kind of woman who wouldn't really mind being called "petite," a woman with a good deal of princess in her personality. She must be attractive -- also nonnegotiable. Her economic status should be middle class or higher, but an exception can be made in the case of wartime (see: [Jessica] Lynch).
There is a factor that excceds these. It's not so much white but blonde. With photos made readily available, probably several, so Fox/CNN, etc. can flash them.
If not blond, for notoriety need possible political connection (Chandra Levy) or very bizarre circumstances and perp available for video replays (Laci and Scott Peterson).
This is the driver of wall to wall news. Mystery is also critical. This case has EVERYTHING.
The fellow that shot the judge was not blond. That story was huge.
Surprisingly racist and sexist and lookist and classist commentary from Michele Malkin. Does this mean that if Michele Malkin goes missing, her picture won't be flashed all over TV? She seems to fit all the attributes she's deriding, except for race.