Just Not Quite News

On this day of loss, it's worth remembering that we don't know everything. What I mean is that there is much going on everywhere, but we only know about things we hear about in the media. The big news stories of the day and front page headlines are the sum total of our awareness of events around us. What is today's news will soon be consigned to history. Take for instance the Costa Concordia and the plight of those who perished, unable to get out fast enough trapped below deck, some still to be found. What has happened? Is the ship still there? Did they find everyone? And what of the captain? The only way to find out these things is to troll the Internet or to find an Italian newspaper report. It would seem we are no longer interested. Unless the ship sinks beneath the waves or breaks in two, we'll hear no more about it. It is old news, no longer of any interest. But I'm still interested.
People, those who are familiar to us and those who are not pass away every day. We don't hear about them. Even those who have given so much, starred in so many films, appeared on so many stages, and those who's voices are familiar, pass away quietly, unreported. A case in point is Frederick Treves.

His name will nothing to most people, but look at his photograph and straight away scenes from Miss Marple, Poirot. The Jewel in the Crown, The Naked Civil Servant and countless other dramas and films will spring to mind. Simply enter his name in the Internet Movie Database and you'll see he is credited with starring in many of the best films ever made.He was quite simply a superb and highly talented actor.
I would not have known about his passing until the next roll call of the deceased at the BAFTA's. I'm always shocked to see someone has passed on, and that I'm the last to know about it. Would Frederick's passing be reported if there was no other news? I somehow doubt it. It probably doesn't score highly enough. It's so sad. So I now find myself relying more and more on the likes of Wikinews and other sites for my news, the news I want to know about, and the news that matters to me. I wonder if I'm alone? I doubt it, sadly.