The good news among the whole bunch of bad in 2015

Discussing his strategy to combat terrorism during a recent radio interview, US President Barack Obama seemed to blame the media for the growing anxiety over that threat among Americans.

"Well, I think what's fair is that post-Paris you had a saturation of news about the horrible attack there", and groups such as the Islamic State (IS) combine "viciousness with very savvy media operations", Mr Obama explained. "And as a consequence, if you've been watching television for the last month, all you have been seeing, all you have been hearing about, is these guys with masks or black flags who are potentially coming to get you," he argued.

President Obama makes a good point. For better or for worse, the 24/7 media environment has become an integral part of our Global Village in the 21st century. On the plus side, we as global citizens have access through the Internet and television cable news to instant coverage of events in almost every corner of the world.