pressing moral issues

A good measure of the seriousness of a breach in morality is how big a news it can generate. Not to say that all news are about morality breaches, but a good portion of them is. Whenever a crime is committed, a politician's affair exposed, a business fraud revealed, a mismanagement of public funds, a murder, a rape, a runaway soccer player, a newbie politician who fumbled, makes juicy news.

A good measure of the seriousness of a breach in morality is how long a piece of news can last. Main headlines and tabloid coverage, followed by commentary columns, analysis, inspired comics, generates forum letters, discussion forums, tv interviews of authorities, poll on public reaction, satirical columns, and hopefully a movie eventually.

A journalist who can find a news with all these listed potential may as well hit a career jackpot. A good measure of the seriousness of a breach in morality is how much a journalist is willing to pay for first access to the news. Then by sensationalizing it, the journalist hopes to stretch the lifespan of that piece of news. Then the news pretty much takes a life of it's own till it's all spent, then it fades gradually into oblivion...