Why is it that when some kids are missing, they go on for months on end talking about it on the news, but when other kids are missing, all they do is put up a small picture saying "Have you seen Johnny So-and-So? Take the Elizabeth Smart case, for example. For months, and months people talked about her on the news, Barbara Walters does specials on 20/20 about her etc., but (Some New Yorkers who watch channel 7 news will know what I’m talking about) the other kids who have been missing just have their picture from maybe 3 years ago, their date of disapparance, their height, and what they happened to have on at the time they disappeared. This is really bugging me, the way they choose to show one kid over another. Do you think Elizabeth Smart would have been found if it weren’t for all that (for lack of a better word) publicity? If only more kids were shown on television, on Amber Alerts etc, the way Elizabeth had been shown, maybe more children would be found. 
I don’t know how accurate this is, but it was my understanding that Elizabeth Smart was more or less middle class. Her parents had more of a financial ability to try to get her found. Amber Alert and similar programs will hopefully have a beneficial effect, but I don’t think there’s enough time in the day to televise all the children who must go missing. Not to say that I don’t believe that it should be televised; I just don’t think it will.
This is purely speculation, just based on my observations, but since this isn’t GQ I’ll throw it out: The overwhelming majority of abducted children are abducted by a family member, most notably a disgruntled non-custodial parent. Most of the well-publicized missing children cases, though, do not involve a non-custodial parent. Maybe that’s one difference. It’s not the only thing, though. I believe race and perceived social standing have a lot to do with it, as about the time Elizabeth Smart disappeared there were two of Texas children who also disappeared under circumstances in which there was no non-custodial parent involved and they were barely mentioned even in Texas. One little girl garnered a 5-second mention on America’s Most Wanted. These children were either black or hispanic.
I believe the fact that the Smarts were higher class did play a role, but I also think that they fought to keep it into the media. Calling their local news, making public appearances etc…
Lorinada, that is exactly what I’ve been thinking: that sometimes the desire to put a child on TV is fueled by race and social standing, but I was a bit afraid to say it…