What is News Item Text?

Definition

News item is a text which informs the readers, listeners, or viewers about event of the day.

Purpose

      To inform readers, listeners, or viewers about events which are considered newsworthy or important.

Generic Structure:

         1.      Main event/Newsworthy Event

         Ø   Tells the main event in summary form

         2.      Elaboration/Background Event

         Ø  What elaborate happened, tell what caused the incident. It can be a background, participant, time, and place relating to news

         3.      Source of information

          Ø  Comments by participants, witnesses, authorities, and experts involved in the events

Language Features:

         1.      Focusing on circumstances

         2.      Short, telegraphic, information about story captured in headline

         3.      Using material process

         4.      Using action verb

         5.      Using adverb

         6.      Using passive voice

         7.      Using saying verb

Example

Students Found Dead in Waterway in Serpong

The body of high school student was found in waterway at Jl. Pare in Bumi Serpong Damai estate in Serpong, South Tangerang, on Wednesday. Serpong police chief Comr. Hibertus Omposingi identified the student as Taher Achad, 16 from SMI Bina Kesehatan Cendekia in Tangerang. Omposungi refused to comment on the possible cause of the students’ death. “We are still looking into the death of the student and will be sending the body to Tangerang general hospital for an autopsy. Only autopsy results can explain the cause of death,“he said.