Media has "essentially ignored what's going on in the fight to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State."  No, it hasn't.  I see stories now and then. But it ain't  big news possibly for these reasons: Russia isn't involved.  It's a typical Iraqi operation, (see Ramadi, Fallujah) meaning: it takes MANY WEEKS for a well-equipped massive force (30,000-strong, supported by U.S. special forces and under American, French and British air cover) to oust a ISIS force estimated, in this case, to be a mere 6,000 strong. 

Given the above, no news is definitely good news.