Newsworthiness audio clip
I'm glad Dr. Jerz offered this information, even though it may seem somewhat like common sense: Extraordinary over Ordinary. Having the clear division helps to see what is in and what is out, as far as news. For instance, I would have believed something never known for 200yrs and recently uncovered could qualify as newsworthy. I can see now how it wouldn't be suitable for news. Let's summarize!
What equals Newsworthiness?
1. Extraordinary events
2. Notable people
*More is better for 1 & 2
3. Events impacting many
4. Proximity determines relevance
5. RECENT, not ongoing
6. History is not news
Good job summarizing, April. If someone is publishing a book about this 200-year-old find, or a community is dedicating a monument, or trying to raise the funds to correct an inaccuracy on a plaque, then any one of those things might qualify (on a slow news day) as a "news hook" to make this 200 year old find newsworthy. Even so, you'd lead with the recent event -- the news.