Crossword Genius

Digs out exclusive news items (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scoops

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'digs' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'exclusive news items' is the wordplay.
'exclusive' becomes 'scoop' (as in a newspaper scoop).
'news items' becomes 's' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'scoop'+'s'='SCOOPS'

'out' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scoops that I've seen before include "First news discoveries - journalists seek them" , "'Stories obtained, by a newspaper say, before others (6)'" , "Exclusive news stories" , "News items published by paper before others" , "Shovel-like utensils" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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