Keeping The Spotlight Focused…
Carole Moore
Missing Persons Contributor
Officer.com
…On Missing Loved Ones
Imagine how difficult it is for someone you love to go missing. Now imagine living with that disappearance every single moment of your life – not simply because their absence changes everything, but because you work hard to keep your loved one’s name and face out there.
The media has a great deal of power when it comes to reminding us that someone, somewhere is looking for their child, sibling, other relative or friend. Recently that power was exhibited when the Cue Center for Missing Persons (http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/ ) focused on four missing persons cases in the Chicago area as part of a nationwide “tour” designed to bring the plights of these people to the forefront. How? By attracting publicity.
The four missing persons from the Chicago-area involve the Stacy Peterson case (young wife of a retired police officer), the case of a young teen, Rachel Mellon, who vanished when she stayed home from school more than a decade ago, and the 2001 disappearance of two young sisters, Diamond and Tionda Bradley.
The press has been soundly criticized for its selective coverage of certain cases, like the recent disappearance of Florida toddler Caylee Anthony. Critics say the media uses these cases as a quick, easy ratings boost. Maybe they do. It’s hard to fathom why some cases get so much coverage and others hardly rate a mention. But in others, like the disappearances of the three children mentioned above, it’s the families who keep that flame of hope alive.
I say it takes a lot of strength to keep plugging away years after someone you love vanishes. And with more tools to keep the fire burning than ever before – particularly the Internet – it is relatively simple to keep the missing real, vibrant and not forgotten by the rest of the world.
Speaking of forgotten people, here is an unidentified found adult male from the state of Washington. Take a look and see if you might know him:
http://www.theyaremissed.org/ncma/gallery/ncmaprofile_all.php?U200500037S
Thank you for this post. I think more folks should analyze this. Media is extremely biased when it concerns missing children & missing persons. I think this is a very important issue that should be addressed as much as possible. While the media circus is camping out in front of the Anthony’s home in Orlando, they’re ignoring thousands of other missing children across the US. Very interesting to note is their lack of coverage to missing minorities and missing men.
For example, just South of Orlando (where there’s an exaggeration of press) in Miami, there is a young mother who vanished over 15 months ago that nobody knows about. Her name is Lilly Aramburo. She was 23 years old and her son, just 9 months at the time. How is it possible, that even local media have refused to give her case any attention? I’ll tell you why; because she is not white, or middle to upper class. She doesn’t have powerful connections or family members.
Families who are experiencing this struggle to get their missing loved one media attention can use the internet to create an awareness campaign. I wrote a post about this recently, please copy & paste this to your browser for more details:
http://www.subliminalpixels.com/2008/09/05/50-free-online-resources-for-finding-a-missing-persons-using-social-media/
I believe it offers solutions to this gigantic problem.
WHERE IS CAYLEE’S GUARDIAN AD LITEM? WHY IS NO ONE SPEAKING ON HER BEHALF. GET THIS STORY BACK TO CAYLEE.
CAYLEE NEEDS A VOICE!
ANYONE FROM THE AREA SHOULD START CALLING ALL OFFICE’S TO GET CAYLEE’S VOICE HERD!
I WILL BLOG UNTIL I SEE A VOICE FOR CAYLEE!
Thank you for helping with our plight to keep our loved ones in the media and please visit our site at http://www.findtiondanddiamond.com, to sign the online petition for equal airtime for all missing children. Please continue to help search for Caylee, she is loved and our prayers are with the Anthony Family.
I don’t mean to be rude, but there is a certain irony here I have to point out to the author.
While speaking of “Forgotten people” let me take the opportunity to point out one that you yourself forgot.
Brad Olsen, who is actually the 4th person the Cue Stop came to Illinois for. The Bradley sisters were one stop.
You yourself forgot Brad Olsen.
A friend of mine said after reading your article that he is obviously a man destined to be forgotten. I hope this is not the case.
I think this is a very important issue that should be addressed as much as possible. While the media circus is camping out in front of the Anthony’s home in Orlando, they’re ignoring thousands of other missing children across the US.
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Andrew
california dui
Seppy, Brad Olsen was not included in the media reports I read of the event. I will check out his case and spotlight him in a future post or column. Thanks for the information. This only points out how selective the spotlight can be.
Carole
Bradley Olsen will not be forgotten. I have his family and they are committed to finding him. Someone knows about his disappearance and in a city that close knit, someone will tell what they know. I really appreciate the fact that they are not giving up on his search. We will never give up hope and will never stop searching for answers. We love you Brad!