Media Watch:US media reverting to pre 9/11 mentality

According to the Tyndall Report, international news coverage on three major US networks declined during 2007.

The foreign news bureaus of ABC, CBS, and NBC covered the Iraq war frequently in 2007 but otherwise had their lightest year since 2001, suggesting that the era of expanded international coverage that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon is now over.

Aside from Iraq-related stories, which together claimed about 13 percent of the total coverage of the three network evening news programs, only two other foreign-based stories -- the recent political turmoil in Pakistan, and Iran's nuclear program and alleged activities in Iraq -- made it onto the list of the top 20 stories covered last year by the networks, while Latin America, East Asia, Africa and Europe were markedly absent.

Oh well, I guess Americans can look forward to more Britney Spears...