“THE CITY EDITOR (_reading copy. Doesn’t look up_): ‘Ten lines.’ (_Continues reading copy._) “VERY YOUNG REPORTER (_looks surprised and hurt. Crosses over to reporter’s table. Then turns back to city desk. Casual conversational tone_): ‘By the way. Funny thing. There was a baby carriage within fifty feet of the explosion, but it wasn’t upset.’ “THE CITY EDITOR (_looks up with professional interest_): ‘That’s worth a dozen dead dagoes. Write a half column.’ “(_Very Young Reporter looks still more surprised, perplexed. Suddenly the idea dawns upon him. He crosses over to table, sits down, writes._) “Both saw news; but the editor went further than the reporter. For cases of Italians killed by a boiler explosion are so common as to approach the commonplace; but a freak of explosive chemistry which annihilates a strong man and does not disturb a baby departs from it widely.” Here again it is clear that Mr. Irwin has merely emphasized one of the features generally to be found in what we call news, without, however, offering us a complete or exclusive definition of news. Analyzing further within his general rule that news is a departure from the established order, Mr. Irwin goes on to point out certain outstanding factors which enhance or create news value. I cite them here because all of them are unquestionably sound. On the other hand, analysis shows that some of them are directly contradictory to his main principle that only the departure from the established order is news. In Mr. Irwin’s opinion, the four outstanding factors making for the creation or enhancement of news value are the following:[37] 1. “_We prefer to read about the things we like._” The result, he says, has been the rule: “Power for the men, affections for the women.” 2. “_Our interest in news increases in direct ratio to our familiarity with its subject, its setting, and its dramatis personæ._” 3. “_Our interest in news is in direct ratio to its effect on our personal concerns._” 4. “_Our interest in news increases in direct ratio to the general importance of the persons or activities which it affects._” This is so obvious that it scarcely needs comment. Some notion of the diversity of news arising in a city may be obtained if one studies the points which are watched as news sources, either continuously or closely by metropolitan dailies. Mr. Given[38] lists the places in New York which are watched constantly: “Police Headquarters. Police Courts. Coroner’s Office. Supreme Courts, New York County. New York Stock Exchange. City Hall, including the Mayor’s Office, Aldermanic Chamber, City Clerk’s Office, and Office of the President of Manhattan Borough. County Clerk’s office.” Those places, says Mr. Given, which the newspapers watch carefully, but not continually, are: “City Courts (Minor civil cases).