No, it's not true and I know it. But huge numbers tend to come from impersonal acts and events. Someone mistreating their kids can make me sick. What happened at the WTC only hits me intellectually. If I knew anyone there, I'm sure it would be different.
Note also that I tend to avoid the shows that focus on "the personal tragedies of $insert_major_event_here". Everyone has a limit to how much outrage and empathy they can summon up, beyond which they're numbed to misfortune. I'd rather save mine for people I know and things I can do something about. No one can stay outraged forever ... at least no one that I want to be around or be like.