what will happen to the news?

I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make. The point I'm trying to make is that it's the world's most devastating natural disaster in recent times. Even if you want to challenge that point (and why you'd want to, I don't know), the fact that 150,000 people have been wiped out in one swoop (a figure that, without question, will increase) makes it a rather important news story.

Silly season or not.

So it would probably be useful not to complain that it's taking up a lot of news output, or come up with Pompeii.

I'm not complaining - I totally agree with you. People who complain that there is too much coverage on the TV obviously don't have a heart for all those poor people in South East Asia. I'm worried about the fact that the coverage will die away, and the support for it as well.

And, Weather Man, kill your obsession for NBC Nightly News.

Well actually it is reported in the press that the death toll of 441 (if it gets to that, although there are 2000 Brits unaccounted for) is the largest British loss of life from one cause since World War 2, now add the rest of Europe who has similar losses if not greater and then Asia itself... dont tell me the media is obsessed!

Yes.. please do.. It can get really annoying. But I dont understand how you can like any news programmes from America they are all so dull and boring... some presenters (CNN) have way to much make up a pathetic, not for news hairstyle and much more. and I can go on more and more how annoying watching american news can be. (no offence to any americans here)

Clearly the Tsunami has been a terrible and unimaginably awful disaster. It is a shame though that the wall-to-wall coverage means that other stories which arguably deserve equal attention are still being ignored such as the appalling suffering in Africa.

Whilst the horrific pictures from South East Asia are prompting us to donate millions of pounds to that particular appeal, I think we're in great danger of forgetting those whose lives are being lost to a less visually dramatic disaster. I think 7,000 lives per day being lost in Africa through disease and starvation deserves at least some coverage.

well i for one, like watching the American network news, becouse of the fact their studios are much better then the UK networks, (except CBS) and i am going to New York soon, so i sort of want to get my self acquainted with whats going on on the other side of the Athlantic.
sorry if my "obsession" is annoying people, but i can say the same about other members on totally different subjects, so i really dont know what you are saying. Plus, in all forums, you will have at least one person who likes one thing, which may annoy other emembers

youre views on the american anchors, are all your opinion which is up to you, i have no say.

Wholeheartedly agree.
And what about the huge numbers of people around the world who die from AIDs each year?

Yes - and it is worrying that it is reported that some of the aid pledged to relief of the terrible effects of the Tsunami is not "new" money, but money already earmarked for overseas aid aimed at other areas - like Africa.

No Thanks i am trying to cut down

That took 5 years. This took one day.

I think we are all losing our perspective of global disasters and the context in which they happen. My concern is that the aid being given to these regions is not sustainable in that the UK and other MEDC's may have to keep on giving aid. International development is about idependant countries helping themselves and coping themselves.

Another point is that Gordon Brown who has postponed the repayment of foreign debt is just doing so as a publicity act - a trademark of Labour. He should not let affairs of this nature interfere with business.

The USA copes well with disasters and doesn't recieve aid and such like. The countires affected by the tsumani are reasonably prosperous in terms of tourist generated income. The point here is when to draw the line between countries that need help and can cope and countries that want help.

Well said Weather Man. US TV network news has better set designs, better-produced packages and much better-written scripts than any UK news programme.