sub-prime and the media

6 months ago "sub-prime" didn't exist in our vocabulary and now every media "economist" is an expert. Likewise with the "housing problem." Does it occur that the sub-prime loans only account for 1% of housing financing and some geographical areas became over-build/over-priced?
Yes indeed there are some indicators of an economic slump such as rising unemployment stats but, we even have people on a2k talking about our "current" recession" when there is no more than the possibility of a future recession of which I can only find a few economists that think we are heading there.
What we do have is a slow-down in the rate of increase of the GDP; we also have a media interest in hyping; be it the war in Iraq; the WAR between Hillary and O'bama; climate change and the foreign debt we owe to China.
All the above are real issues but just how real are they? I don't know and I'm sure the majority of US citizens don't know either because we really don't get factual information from our media to make good judgements.
I shall spend the rest of my day planning this springs garden.