To be newsworthy, a story must be timely. The 5 o'clock news goes on at 5 o'clock whether you're in the story or not. Reporters need information now or it's not worth having. Timeliness can also mean seasonality. Move quickly while the story is fresh.
Reporters sometimes cover isolated incidents or single-example stories.
But they're more interested when they spot a trend. If one nurse walks off the job because managed care is hurting patient care, it might be covered. If 20 nurses do the same thing at three different local hospitals, it will be covered. Ethical dilemmas, tough decisions, quality of care issues - these all present conflicts that make interesting stories. The win-win situation often lacks the same kind of drama.