A devastating truck bomb exploded in Somalia on Saturday, October 14th. The death toll exceeded 300 lives and hundreds more were seriously injured. Victims ranged from pedestrians, taxi drivers, and street vendors in the bustling Somali capital, Mogadishu. The terrorist attack is recorded as one of the worst in the world in current history, yet there is no outrage or widespread response across the globe.

The attack is linked to the Islamist militant group, Al-Shabab, translated "The Youth in Arabic". The terrorist group has carried out a string of attacks against Somalia and neighboring Kenya. In 2006, Al-Shabab occupied Mogadishu and as of current, their numbers are around 7,000 to 9,000 men.

The group is allied with Al-Qaeda and continues to hold much power in the rural areas of Somalia. The militant group poses a potent threat to the stability in the region, the lives of the innocent, and democratic affairs.

The last democratic elections in Somalia were in 1969, sadly, because terrorist groups continue to provoke instability and fear in many African provinces. Groups such as Al-Shabab are a threat to international security, and the group holds relevance to the values the United States projects on a global level to ensure the sovereignty, safety, and success of all peoples and nations.

The media has failed in their duty to inform and report relevant news topics to the public effectively. The stories that need to be told are oftentimes suffocated by the news that is labeled as trendy or entertaining. Unfortunately, this is a tendency that is too prevalent in our culture. Articles about the latest Hollywood gossip are featured front and center whereas reports of global topics and humanitarian crises are hidden.

The media is the driving force behind change. If it were not for the reporting on the Vietnam war, many American families would be ignorant of the utter violence and devastation of the war. The media informed the public, and in turn, they were able to pressure the Nixon administration to withdraw its troops from Vietnam and finally end a bloody and unnecessary war that lasted almost 20 years. The media needs to be utilized to inform the public of foremost news and provoke positive change.

Some individuals took to Twitter themselves to proclaim western bias. There was no widespread support from the US or Europe condemning the sheer act of violence in Mogadishu, Somalia. Terrorist attacks in Nice, London, Manchester, Stockholm, Brussels, Orlando, and other affluent cities have garnered much attention from the press, yet not nearly as much for Mogadishu. The discrepancy is apparent, and although the bombing can be perceived as far away from the comfort of our homes, that notion should not alter our empathy for humanity. Acts of terror affect us all in one way or another, and it is the responsibility of the press to inform the public of such catastrophic events.

The solidarity that transcends borders across the globe is needed in times of darkness and it is the duty of the press to inform the citizens of the world, especially under circumstances where prayers and humanitarian aid is of the utmost necessity.