This weekend had not one but two pieces of unforgettable news; the first was a lone gunman who massacred 92 people in Norway, the second was troubled singer Amy Winehouse's untimely but not unexpected death. 

Which attracted more comment and more interest around the world?

Now you can sit back and blame the media for a sick set of priorities that sees the life of one given more space to the life of many; in reality the media is the clearest and most relfective mirror society has. 

It gives us the Page 3 Stunna, gossip about drug addicted celebrities and it even occasionally cries foul about the techniques it uses to give us such salacious material.

You might not think about it but every time you click on an article about Amy Winehouse and not Norway you're sending a clear message to editors about what the world wants to read.

Do you think about what you read/watch as one of many that decides what gets reported? Does the media have a responsibility to report what we need to know or what we will read? Tell us and remember...Disqus!  . . read more

By Max Skilbeck-Porter

In my living room with the light down low, i am enjoying Amy Winhouse's record "Back to Black". To many around the world, this would not be much of an event; she was one of the most recognised figures in popular culture and with her untimely demise came obituaries in just about any publication at the news stand.

But for me it is strange, before her death i had barely acknowledged her existence.

Little did i know of her incredible emotional and lyrical depth to her work; it truly does stand up to many of the greats that have come before her, people like Patti Smith and Janis Joplin, she had that sort of magic.

Besides her obvious afflictions, she was an artist with true talent. I suppose if her death taught me anything it's that sometimes the mainstream does get it right, and obstinately blinkering it can block you off from some great stuff.

From here on in I'll be paying a little more attention to the hair dressers radio, and i'll be enjoying Amy, and maybe even more; time will tell.

R.I.P.

Does the catch word of the "mainstream" ever blind you to seeing great art? Do tragedies like the death of Amy Winehouse ever lead you to reconsider a body of work that you hadn't given any attention? Tell us and remember...Disqus!