In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.
They allege a range of illegal acts, from giving a regulatory break to a telecom company in exchange for good press coverage to accepting free cigars and champagne.
While comment and reaction from lawyers may enhance stories, it is preferable for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own judgments.
And it's not just the floodwaters that are dangerous, news reports that there have been several sightings of crocodiles and snakes that have been carried a long in the floods.
And that was particularly so in Africa, where the SKA is seen as a good-news story for a continent still struggling to overcome its image as a violent and chronically unstable place.
It's a great way to quiz your classes' recall of topics we've covered or to offer extra credit. Why not? At cnnstudentnews.com, just click under transcript and Roll Call.