If it Bleeds, it Leads: Media Mentality Misses the Big Picture

It has long been said that the mainstream media focuses only the bad things happening in Iraq and often, if not always, glosses over any reports of progress or positive news. By adhering to the “If it bleeds, it leads” mentality, the major news organizations miss many opportunities to share with the American public, and the world, events that are just as crucial to the future of Iraq as the success or failure of military actions against the various insurgent groups.

What follows are a few of the noteworthy news items to come out of Iraq in just the past week, although you won’t see these facts reported on your favorite cable news channel or in your favorite newspaper. No, to find these facts you have to do a little searching. A good place to start is the Multi-National Force-Iraq’s official newsletter, This Week in Iraq, available on the coalition web site.

According to the newsletter, construction is complete on 1.86 miles of feeder lines and the installation of overhead distribution lines in Baghdad Province, improving electrical services for more than 270,000 residents. In addition, the newsletter states, 52 water treatment units have been installed in the Karkh District of Baghdad Province, capable of producing nearly 106,000 gallons of potable water per day, or enough for about 78,000 residents. Remember, this is just in the past week and only in Baghdad Province. Similar projects have been completed and continue to be worked on in each of Iraq’s 18 provinces.