What does 'hit the papers' mean?

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #116 [color=blue]“Paper expressions”, question 7

As soon as the story about the scandal became known, it didn’t take long to the papers.

(a) strike
(b) attack
(c) hit
(d) thump

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #116 [color=blue]“Paper expressions”, answer 7

As soon as the story about the scandal became known, it didn’t take long to hit the papers.

Correct answer: (c) hit
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I don’t see how those verbs could be related to “the papers”. So it’s a little hard for me to choose the good answer.

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‘Hit the papers’ = be published in the newspapers; become news.
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