Tragedy and Web Traffic: Together Again
"If it bleeds, it leads" wins the day again.According to Beet.tv, CNN.com had 19 million page views and 11.4 million video streams on Monday, April 16 -- the day of the Virginia Tech shootings. Student Jamal Albarghouti's cellphone video accounted for 2 million video streams. (Note: Beet.tv lists CNN.com's Monday traffic as "19 million" -- I'm assuming that's 19 million page views, but I've got a note in asking for confirmation.)
The 4/16 figures are a major bump from the 7 million page views and 2 million video streams CNN.com averages. With numbers like these, the motivation behind mainstream media's vulture-like coverage becomes clear (justifying it beyond mere economics is another matter). Yes, I'm editorializing -- I can't stand mainstream "tragedy" coverage. Dehumanization is never acceptable, even if it brings in big ratings and massive traffic.
One positive: Beet.tv says CNN.com's Virginia Tech tribute page is its most popular feature story ever.
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