Bayesian tragedy over reported

You have to admit it's a strikingly strange set of events.
It really is not a question of caring more or less. People are well aware that tragedies a two a dime, but however sad they are there's nothing making them quite so unlikely or noticeable.
Nobody talks about the little girls in Southport anymore, I don't think it's because they don't care.

YANBU. It’s sad, but yeah - seems like a slow news week

I actually think it has been over reported in the UK and under reported in the US (as US citizens also on board).

The US news this week has been much more focused on the election, Ukraine, and Gaza. I mostly watch it now unless there's something major happening in the UK that they wouldn't report on/much in the US.

It's August - there isn't a lot of news at this time of year. And it's a freak accident. A tornado in the Med sinking a superyacht with billionaires on board - what is the chance of that? It's like the Titan sub disaster last year - it's a unique story involving at least some British people - so there is a lot of interest in it. If no one was interested, they wouldn't run it.

It's tragedy as entertainment.

Yes report developments but why go on and on each night, lingering and relishing every detail. It's distasteful.

It's big because yachts like that don't sink, the owner had just been cleared in a huge court case, and it comes hot on the heels of his co-accused being killed in a car crash

exactly this.

No one said you did, you think a lot of yourself 🤣

If this was a fishing trawler out of Grimsby, I don't think it would have had anywhere near the coverage.

That being said, it's an awful tragedy I feel for the families Of the dead.

Well it would be a massive story if it turned out to be a hit. Which is what some of more excitable commentators I have spoken to suggested.

I’m not saying I believe this btw. It’s almost certainly bollocks. But it’s a very strange set of coincidences and you can’t blame people for being interested in it.

Saying it’s just about “rich people” misses the point. It’s about powerful and well connected people. For better or worse it’s inevitable that the deaths of famous and well connected people attract more attention. It’s ever been thus.

People care more because the victims are rich and high profile. Humans are fascinated by the lives of the ultra wealthy and there is a weird schadenfreude when tragedy strikes people who seem to have it all. There’s added interest in this case because of the fraud trial.

People don’t care nearly so much when migrants die in channel crossings even though they’re human lives of equal value and importance. They should, but they don’t.

It's big because yachts like that don't sink, the owner had just been cleared in a huge court case, and it comes hot on the heels of his co-accused being killed in a car crash.

Again, not my issue as I do not dictate the news.

It was complete saturation though.. Every headline, every news programme opened with it. It's very sad that people have died, but did it really needs so much time and space ?
As a pp said, rich white men have more value than anyone else in this world though

News channels will look for a story to do rolling 24 hour coverage, especially in a slow news week.

That doesn’t mean the story is actually worthy of 24/7 coverage for a week.

I agree with you OP.
And with the other pp who compare the coverage with that given to deaths of migrants.
No equality even in death.

It's a strange story given the context and also I'm not sure I understand why it's potentially manslaughter and who is being accused. I don't think it's particularly overreported.

I agree; it's been the top story on the news multiple times this week. Outside of the family and friends it's really not of any other importance.

@Anonym00se

This!!

So much interest in the privileged 1% while barely any mention of the many people who drown in small boats, including very young children and babies.

It is big news whether I called it that or not. I am sure you are well aware of this. I’m not a news channel, obviously they have felt that the situation has justified heavy reporting so your question would be better directed at one of them.

What do you define it as , you’re the one calling it big news.

More people have died in other tragedies this week but they were just a foot note.

I think there’s also the hint of a conspiracy theory here because of Mike Lynch’s background and the fact his codefendent in the Autonomy trial was killed in mysterious circumstances a couple of days before. And the fact he was well connected with the security services.

Its very strange indeed. I am not a conspiracy theorist but I can see why it makes people wonder if there was more to this than meets the eye.

Plus the human tragedy and the freak weather. I can see why it’s a huge story.

How is it not? Who should define what ‘big news’ is?

How is it big news?