A question of importance (reports and reporters)

Lesson #101
When editing a news report, make sure you transfer paragraphs with important information and personalities to the top of the article (note: reporters don't know this and write what they want and put information all over the article - editors have to go collecting and rearranging. Go figure). Problem for me - how do you decide/know who and what is 'important'?
Also, I must remember to pick and chose and rearrange sentences so that the report is less cluttered and all the facts tally. Wow . . .
With this new knowledge, how I wish certain writing-challenged reporters be released from duty and I guess whenever SP sends in reports, I must remember Lesson #101.