Question

why does the New York Times article radio listeners in panic include so much information in the first sentence

Answer 1

To gain the attention of the listeners

Answer 2

To give the public the knowledge needed to understand the story

Step-by-step explanation:

The article provided all the information needed in the first sentence so that people would have the knowledge necessary to understand the story being told in the article. In this way the article manages to maintain the interest, the curiosity and the involvement of the people in what is written.