The Truth (Discworld, #25; Industrial Revolution, #2)

by Terry Pratchett

“Like that rain of dogs there was a few months ago?” said O’Biscuit. “There was no rain of dogs two months ago!” William snapped. “But—” “One puppy is not a rain. It fell out of a window. Look, we are not interested in pet precipitation, spontaneous combustion, or people being carried off by weird things from out of the sky—” “Unless it happens,” said Sacharissa. “Well, obviously we are if it does happen,” said William. “But when it doesn’t, we’re not. Okay? News is unusual things happening—” “And usual things happening,” said Sacharissa, screwing up a report from the Ankh-Morpork Funny Vegetable Society. “And usual things, yes,” said William. “But news is mainly what someone somewhere doesn’t want you to put in the paper—” “Except that sometimes it isn’t,” said Sacharissa again. “News is—” said William, and stopped. They watched him politely as he stood with his mouth open and one finger raised. “News,” he said, “all depends. But you’ll know it when you see it. Clear? Right. Now go and find some.”