How can journalists make the significant interesting, without making it sensational?

Police find Mitt Romney practicing witchcraft with Brazilian prostitute

...Just kidding.  I hate to trick you like this, but really, wouldn't this be an amazingly interesting story?  I must admit that I find sensationalism rather entertaining.  Do I want to hear more when a broadcaster tells me my skinny jeans could kill me?  Am I curious as to what new spells Mitt is casting lately?  Yes.  Do I recognize that it is ridiculous?  I like to think so.  

Sensationalism is a type of bias in the media in which news stories are enhanced, dramatized, and the truth is stretched in order to increase viewership or readership.  Yes, it is entertaining, but it is simply not reliable news.  

Journalists may be tempted to stretch the truth or tell a story in a way that will draw readers in.  And writing an engaging and relevant story is important, but there must be a balance.  Journalists should first and foremost seek the truth.  Then they can work on writing the story in a compelling way.  Our textbook puts it this way:  "Journalism is storytelling with a purpose.  That purpose is to provide people with the information they need to understand the world.  The first challenge is finding the information that people need to live their lives.  The second is to make it meaningful, relevant, and engaging" (189).

So how do they do this?  How do they make the significant interesting without making it sensational?  First, they can start off by asking these questions:

1) What's the story really about?

2) Who is the audience for this story and what information do these people need to know to make up their own minds about the subject?

3) Who has the information?

4) What's the best way to tell the story?

It is my opinion that the quality of the story depends so much on the effort the journalist puts into it.  It is so important to be creative and think about what way is the best way to go about writing the story.  Perhaps the best way to write the story is not in the typical inverted pyramid form.  There are many different approaches one can take, such as a profile, a narrative, or even a Q&A.  Think of which option will be most relevant to the topic and to the audience.  Make an effort to develop characters and use compelling quotes.  News doesn't have to be boring, and an interesting, colorful story doesn't have to be fiction.  

It may be tricky, but journalists can write interesting and relevant stories without creating sensationalism.  Yes, gossip and scandal is entertaining.  But the world around us is fascinating enough without being embellished.