News Item

Name : Michael Pang

Class / No : XII IS 4 / 34

A. Theory
1. Definition
News item is a text which informs readers about events of the day. The events are
considered newsworthy or important.
2. Communicative Purpose
To inform about something or events of the day that is important to be known by other
people.
3. Generic Structure
a. Main event
Tells the main event in a short way or summary form.
b. Background events or Elaboration
Elaborate what happened and what caused the incident. It also can be the
background, participant, time, and place relating to the news.
c. Resource of information
Comments by participants, witnesses, authorities and experts involved in the event
or any other resource that related with the news.
4. Language Feature
a. Focusing on circumstances
Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline
b. Use simple past tense
Example : The teenager eventually confessed to the relationship to the leader of
Christian group he belonged to.
c. Use of action verbs
Example : Hit, Attack
d. Use of saying verbs
Example : Said, Added, Claimed
e. Use of passive sentences
Example : Aceh was hit by Tsunami in 2004
B. Example

Example of Procedure

A. Malaysian Women Suggested to Carry Condoms

Malaysian Deputy Health Ministry urged every woman to carry a condom to protect

against HIV, a news report said.

This is not to debate them but to protect them. Women are the first ones to get

exploited by their partners (whom are infected by HIV-positive) Abdul Latiff Ahmad

was quoted as saying by Sunday Star Newspaper. But this just a suggestion, its up to

them.

Abdul latiff made remark to coincide with the International Aids Memorial day, which

was celebrated openly for the first time in Malaysia, in bid to reduce stigma for HIV-

victim. In the past the event was held behind closed door.

Last year, 745 Malaysian women were identified as HIV-positive and 193 were

diagnosed with AIDS, he said in the report. Officials have said nearly 81000 Malaysian

have been infected with HIV, less then 10 percent are woman, but the number is

steadily rising.

Malaysian Aids Council president, Adeebah Kamarulzaman, was quoted as saying

besides sex workers, many women who contract HIV are housewives, were infected

unknowingly by their husbands. Its not that people dont know that condoms can

protect them. But there are some men who dont care to take precaution, even though

they know they have HIV she said.

(Source The Jakarta Post, June 01, 2008)

Generic Structure Analysis

News worthy event: Malaysian women is urged to carry condoms to protect HIV.

Background event 1: International Memorial Day was held openly in Malaysia to

reduce stigma for HIV victims.

 Background event 2: The number of Malaysian women who are infected with HIV is

steadily rising.

Source: Malaysian Aids Council president said that there were some men who did not

care to take precaution even though they knew they had HIV.

C. Exercise

A survey has found about 13 percent of first-time smokers in the country are junior
high school students. It also revealed 89 percent of young female employees were
smokers. The survey was conducted in five major cities across the country, including
Surakarta in Central Java.
Muhammad Syahril Mansyur, the Surakarta Health Agencys respiratory illness
division, said that the finding of the survey showed an alarming growth rate of
Indonesian smokers. This situation is a cause for concern, he said. It appears the
countrys younger generation is uneducated about the health risks of smoking.
The Indonesian anti-tobacco campaign has reportedly been deemed as ineffective as
the government refuses to sign the international convention on tobacco control. It said
that cigarette producers contributed to a large amount to state revenue and gave jobs to
thousands of workers.

1. What is the text about?

a. Growing number of junior high school smoking students
b. Surveying towards junior high school smoking students
c. Finding the danger of smoking in Central Java
d. Preventing junior high school smoking students
e. Indonesian anti-tobacco campaign

2. What did the finding of the survey reveal?

a. 13 percent of the first-time smokers
b. 89 percent of young female employees
c. The danger of smoking for junior high students
d. An alarming growth rate of Indonesian smokers
e. The effectiveness of the survey conducted in Central Java
3. It said that cigarette producers contributed to a large amount to state revenue and
gave jobs to thousands of workers. (Paragraph 3)
The word revenue has the same meaning as
a. Advantage
b. Product
c. Income
d. Yield
e. Value

4. Why was the Indonesian anti-tobacco campaign considered ineffective?

a. A lot of teenagers and adult people have been active smokers
b. The cigarette producers affected young teenagers to be smokers.
c. The cigarette producers caused a lot of the health risks of smoking.
d. The government does not support the Indonesian anti-tobacco campaign.
e. The cigarette producers provided a lot of revenue and jobs to thousands of
employees.
5. The survey was conducted in .... major cities
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5