I suspect there have always been a similar amount, but as the world becomes smaller courtesy of the Internet etc, the media pay more attention to things happening far away because people are starting to care more.

I mean, it's not impossible that the Earth's going through a rough seismic period, but would this kind of disaster in Japan have warranted such extensive cover a hundred years ago?

With regards the aftershock, I vaguely recall experts warning of such a thing shortly after the first quake. Hopefully preparing for it was made a priority.