Right before 2011 hits our calendars, it has become obligatory to have a “The Year in Review” or “The 2010 Look Back” type of articles in all of the major news outlets. These types of articles look back in the year to highlight the major news stories that made an impact in our national consciousness.

There are two problems. First, most of these news highlights are not news worthy in the first place. Second, just by having these articles shows the slow pace of actual news reporting out in the field.

Are the news outlets bragging that coverage of un-newsworthy stories made it to the national consciousness? Stories are un-newsworthy in my opinion if it does not serve any significant purpose in facilitating democracy by educating the public on critical issues.

The major news outlets spent more resources on presenting these un-newsworthy stories in their coverage.  The coverage of actual news was chastised in their 5 minute, hyper fast news headline segments.

I guess it was such a surprise that gasoline prices were one of the highest during the winter holidays, unless the news outlets remembered how OPEC decided to stick with low production levels several weeks ago. Perhaps the news outlets’ hyper fast news coverage induced them a type of memory problem.

Also, where is the news coverage on the Ivory Coast? There is a country in the brink of a civil war, and the story doesn’t even get any attention by some news outlets. Granted, the Ivory Coast might not be a significant player in the international stage, but isn’t significant nevertheless that the incumbent President ignored President Obama’s phone call? I guess they ran out of news staff after wasting their time covering 2010 all over again.

As we hit another new year, some don’t improve.