The News media, the public, the networks, all get what they deserve. The story says much more about how the country finds trite events fascinating, and important ones (going to war,) dull.
Strangely, I found myself occupied with a job during this saga, so I didn't actually waste one second of my life following the story during its occurrence, something I'm rather proud of (but obviously wasting it away now posting here.)
Not having a TV, I missed a lot of it too. I did think it was odd that they seemed to be spending all their time on the news, it seems like the sort of thing that you'd make a statement, "We are glad that he is okay and we'd like to thank everyone that helped us look for him" and then go on with your life. But given that I'm not an aspiring reality TV star, maybe I just don't know how to do this sort of thing...
It occurs to me that they could have gotten a lot more media attention if they'd killed him and left his body in the brush downwind of their house. Not to mention they wouldn't have him spoiling it for them afterwards...
Strangely, I found myself occupied with a job during this saga, so I didn't actually waste one second of my life following the story during its occurrence, something I'm rather proud of (but obviously wasting it away now posting here.)
Who really cares....
But maybe I'm just cynical.