I’ve been studying media for the past two years. I’ve learned how to analyze trends, how to create eye catching headlines, color and word patterns, how to craft my message to a demographic, and most importantly, how the media is biased and skewed.

If you’ve watched the news, or, even set foot on almost any social media or news site you’ll get several articles about Ryan Lochte lying about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio. You’ll find videos of Donald Trump’s latest ridiculous speech, or Hilary Clinton’s constant attempt to draw attention away from her catastrophic email scandal.

But, it is doubtful many have paid attention to the devastating floods happening in Louisiana. According to CNN, the floods are the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. It is again doubtful that anyone has given much thought to wildfires raging through southern California. The most recent fire that officials are still attempting to contain covers 50 miles of land. To put this into perspective, my hometown of 66,000 people covers 50 square miles.

There could be more of a support system for those affected by these devastations if more people knew about them. Is Donald Trump’s most recent idiotic comment more important than people whose homes are being destroyed? The media has the power to manipulate. It downplays the important issues and builds up lesser ones that may garner more attention for their entertainment value. It has the power to portray people a certain way. It’s important to remember that there are more important issues than Ryan Lochte lying about being robbed.