There are a lot of hostages in the world, some of them American. They are not getting this coverage. The hostage has to be a member of the press to get the story covered.
Just as paying ransomes begets more kidnappings, press coverage begets more kidnappings.
Expect more press-nappings -- it's the best way to publicize a position.
Really good observation.
However the media coverage the Islamofacist terrorists get may have severe repercussions on muslims and Islam world wide. They may lose their apologists in the media and find out that it is actually possible to have "bad" publicity.