NEWS ITEM [Chapter III]

NEWS ITEM 

Definition:

A News Item Text is a type of factual text that reports newsworthy events or important happenings to the public.

Generic Structure:

1. Headline – The title of the news.

2. Newsworthy Event – A brief summary of the main event (what happened, who, when, and where).

3. Background Event – Additional information such as reasons, explanations, or consequences.

4. Sources – Quotes or comments from people involved or authorities.

Language Features:

1. Use of past tense

2. Use of action verbs (e.g. reported, said, claimed)

3. Use of direct and indirect speech

4. Focus on factual and actual events

5. Often arranged in chronological order

Purpose:

To inform readers about real, important, or interesting events that have happened.

Example Headline:

"Volcano Eruption Forces Thousands to Evacuate"

"President Visits Flooded Area in Central Java"

Part 1

1. M

2. N

3. F

4. A

5. B

6. I

7. E

8. G

9. D

10. C

11. K

12. I

13. J

14. H

15. L

•Newspaper: Printed material, to inform

•Social media: Up to date, digital, web-based to entertain, hoax

•Radio: Up to date, voice/sound, to inform, studio

•Televisi: Live, video, to entertain, news anchors

Practice 3: Match the headlines in the column with the kinds of news.

Find out the head line, the source, and the date, news worthy event and the sources or witness of the news.

Read the text, analyze the headline, the tense, saying verbs, action verb.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct Speech text 2:

"There are only three available gravediggers at the moment, so I thought I might as well put these people to work with them," said Suyono.

"Hopefully this can create a deterrent effect against violations," Suyono said.

 Indirect Speech text 3:

Carllo Latul stated on Instagram that his father had tested positive for Covid-19, showed no symptoms, and that none of the family members were infected.

Read aloud and practice it

Exercise: Read the text below. Then decide the generic structures and language features of the text. Write on your book

Part 2

Practice 1. Read the following text. Find out the appropriate headlines for each news

Try writing down events that happen around you that you find interesting. Write it in the table below!

Read the text 1 closely. Then complete the information related to the text 

1. What's happening : People who litter in Khao Yai National Park will have their rubbish mailed back to them.

2. Who is involved : Thai park authorities and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.

3. Where is this happening : Khao Yai National Park, near Bangkok, Thailand.

4. When is it happening : Currently being implemented (no exact date mentioned, but it’s recent news).

5. Why is it happening : To remind people not to litter in the national park and to protect the environment and animals.

Complete by choosing the appropriate paragraphs IN THE RIGHT COLUMN

Text 1 : News Worthy Event :

A teenager became famous overnight in China when she saved a suicidal stranger - by kissing him on the lips.

Liu Wenxiu, 19, was shopping with a friend at a mall in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, when she saw a crowd of people watching a man hanging on to the barrier of the highest floor.

Background - Text 1 :

"The young man was on the outside of the barrier and was holding a knife to his chest but nobody seemed to be trying to talk him round," she said.

"I wanted to help him but the police wouldn't let me through so I lied and told them he was my boyfriend and that he wanted to kill himself because of me."

"They let me talk to him and he told me he was sad because he was from a broken family. I'm also from a broken family too and understood him perfectly."

Liu then surprised everyone - especially the young man - by stepping forward, putting her arms around him and giving him a kiss.

A fireman took advantage of the distraction and dashed forward to grab hold of the man and pull him to safety.

"His story touched me, and I felt like I really was his girlfriend and I could help him," said Liu afterwards.

 

 

Text 2 : News Worthy Event :

If you litter in this Thai national park, your rubbish may just come back to haunt you.

Well, not exactly haunt, but it'll be shipped to your home as a pointed reminder that when out in nature, you had better clean up after yourself.

Authorities in the popular Khao Yai National Park near Bangkok will start sending rubbish back to litterers, Thailand's environment minister said.

Offenders will also be registered with the police.

 

Background - Text 2 :

Visitors to the park have to register with their addresses, making it easy for rangers to track them down if they leave rubbish behind.

Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa posted pictures of litter collected in cardboard parcels ready to be shipped on his Facebook account.

"Your trash - we'll send it back to you," the post warns, reminding people that littering in a national park is an offence and punishable with up to five years in prison and hefty fines.

The box in the Facebook post contains a polite note saying: "You forgot these things at Khao Yai National Park".

 

Text 3 News Worthy Event :

It kept the Argentine out of the final 10 games of City’s domestic campaign as well their two Champions League matches in August.

Guardiola says he is now uncertain whether City’s 32-year-old record goalscorer will be fit until November.

 

Backgrounds Text 3 :

“We knew the injury was difficult,” said Guardiola.

“He still hasn’t had one training session with us and Sergio is not a guy who regains his physical condition quickly.

He has been out for a long time, so maybe in one or two months he will be ready.”

Look at the text closely. Then answer the questions based on your comprehension on the text.

1. Girl's kiss saves life of a stranger

2. She helped the suicide man by giving him a kiss on the lips

3. In a mall in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China

4. The crowd see a man hanging on to the barrier of the highest floor attempting suicide

5. Because she understands his feelings because she also came from a broken family

Part 3

Justice for Affan Kurniawan and the Silenced Voices

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Indonesia was shocked by the death of Affan Kurniawan, an online motorcycle taxi driver. A viral video showed Affan tragically run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle during a protest in Jakarta. His death, as a hardworking family man with no direct involvement in the demonstration, has sparked widespread public anger and solidarity.

This tragedy quickly escalated the protests, spreading from Jakarta to other major cities and even abroad. The public demanded justice and accountability from the authorities. In response, President Prabowo Subianto visited Affan's family, promised a thorough investigation, and ordered the arrest of the seven Brimob officers involved.

The death of Affan Kurniawan has become a symbol of a broader demand for justice and accountability. It highlights the issue of excessive force by law enforcement in handling protests and the importance of civilian protection. While the government's response has been swift, it is crucial to continue monitoring the legal process to ensure there is no impunity and that all those responsible are held accountable. This tragedy must serve as a turning point for systemic change, ensuring that peaceful protests can happen without fear of violence.