News Item

Definition
• News item is a text which informs readers about events of the day.
• The events are considered newsworthy or important.
Generic Structure
• Main Events / Newsworthy event(s)
• it recounts the event in summary form.
• Elaboration / Background event(s)
• they elaborate what happened, to whom, in what circumstance
• Resource of Information (Source)
• it contains comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities expert
on the event
Purpose
• News Item Text is used to inform readers about events of the day
which are considered newsworthy or important.
• To inform the readers about newsworthy or important events of the day
• To present information the readers about newsworthy or important events of
the day
Language Feature
• Focusing on circumstances (situation, location) using a simple language in
writing the text
• Using saying verbs: “….”, She said, informed, told, reported.
• Sometimes at the beginning of news, the scene is mentioned : Jakarta – …
.. / Kuala Lumpur – …
• Using Past tense in explaining news events. But if it is a fact that until now
still happen or still in the form of fact, then can use simple present tense.
• Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline
• Using adverbs: time, place and manner.
• Uses of material processes to retell the event
• Active and passive voice
Example of News Items Text
Didi Petet Died
Veteran actor Didi Widiatmoko, popularly known as Didi Petet, died at the
age of 58 at his residence in Sasak Tinggi, Ciputat, South Tangerang, on
Friday morning.
Didi’s niece Muthia Kautsar said that Didi, who starred in a number of
comedy and drama films in the 1980s and 1990s, collapsed and lost
consciousness when attending an expo in Milan, Italy, recently.
“He just arrived home on May 10 after attending the exhibition. In that city,
he collapsed and lost consciousness and returned home in a wheelchair,” she
said.
On Tuesday, Didi was taken to Bandung for treatment. Muthia said no
diseases were detected but he died on Friday.
Didi’s body is laid out in his residence on Jl. Bambu Apus in Sasak Tinggi,
Ciputat, South Tangerang. It has yet to be decided when and where he will
be buried.
Active and Passive Voice
Active voice
• In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs
the action denoted by the verb.
• These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.
• The man has eaten five hamburgers.
• Ani mails the letter.
Active and Passive Voice
Passive voice
• One can change the normal word order of many active sentences
(those with a direct object) so that the subject is no longer active, but
is, instead, being acted upon by the verb - or passive.
• Note in these examples how the subject-verb relationship has
changed.
• Five hamburgers have been eaten by the man
• The letter is mailed by Ani
Active to passive voice
• Move the active sentence's direct object into the sentence's
subject slot
Active to passive voice
• Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginning with
the preposition by
Active to passive voice
• Add a form of the auxiliary verb be to the main verb and change the
main verb's form
Other examples
Active Passive

Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Right now, the letter is being written by

Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.
Sarah.

Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.

The salesman was helping the customer The customer was being helped by the
when the thief came into the store. salesman when the thief came into the store.
Other examples
Active Passive

Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Recently, John has been doing the work. Recently, the work has been being done by John.

George had repaired many cars before he received Many cars had been repaired by George before he
his mechanic's license. received his mechanic's license.

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being
fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he
Paris. moved to Paris.
Other examples
Active Passive

Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally

Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.
tonight.

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being
dishes. washed by John.

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being
washing the dishes. washed by John.