ELEMENTS OF NEWSPAPER NEWSWORTHINESS

TIMELINESS

• An element of news referring to events that happen close to publication dates

TIMELINESS

• FLINT — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s trip to Flint was billed as a visit to learn about the Flint water crisis in a community that has been suffering through more than two years of using bottled water for the most basic of needs. He swept in and was greeted by groups of supporters and critics alike at Bishop International Airport in Flint, as well as those who lined the streets along his travel route and outside of his scheduled stops. Trump took a brief tour of the Flint water treatment plant before heading to Bethel United Methodist Church, where opponents booed loudly as his motorcade arrived and left. Trump spoke to about 70 guests at the church, but his remarks were cut short by protesters and a pastor who politely admonished the New York businessman to stick to a non-political speech. Trump, in turn, politely abided by the pastor's request, ending his comments by saying he would fix the problems in Flint — a dearth of jobs and the water problem — if he were elected president. But he offered no concrete solutions or specific plans on how to make the transition from bottled to safe drinking water, or bring back jobs. And his comments and appearance were taken with a grain of salt in a city with a population that is majority African American and that predominantly supports Democrats, especially in presidential elections.