News Item Text
4.2.11. News Item Text
a. Social Function
News item text is a written public information of which the purpose is to inform readers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important. Basically, a news item text answers the 5W and 1H questions: what, who, when, where, why, and how relating to the newsworthy.
b. Generic Structure
The generic structure of News Item Text includes newsworthy event, elaboration of background /background event(s), and sources.
Text Elements
Content
Newsworthy event Event which is considered as newsworthy. The newsworthy event is commonly placed at the first paragraph.
Elaboration of The detail information of the newsworthy event or the background/
external background which closely relates to newsworthy Background event(s)
event.
Sources The closing statements, ranging from the participants, witness, and the official authorities.
c. Language Features
News Item Text focuses on the circumstances and the use of material process. In a functional description, circumstance refers to the adverbial group and the prepositional phrase as constituent structures in a clause (Halliday’s term instead of ’sentence’) besides participant, and process. Meanwhile, process refers to verbal groups showing the expression of events in a clause. This includes whatever is happening, acting, doing, sensing, saying, or simply being. There are three basic types of process: material, relational, and projecting. Material processes are about doing; they could answer the question ‘What did X do?’ or ‘What happened to X?’ (Butt, et.al. 1998: 48-56). The language features of News Item text focus on general topics of human and non human being. It is characterized by the dominant use of:
1. Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline
2. Action verbs
3. Saying verbs
4. Adverbs : time, place and manner.
d. Examples of News Item Text
(1) Camp Rock 2 the final Jam will Premieres on Disney Channel
It was announced on Tuesday that Disney Channel movie with tourmate Demi Lovato, "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," will premiere on September 3 at 8 p.m. ET. On July 27, long before they watch the sequel to the 2008 flick, fans can pick up the soundtrack, featuring 15 original songs that a press release promises will span genres from hip-hop to rock to pop. The flick will not only have more summer lovin' between real-life couple Lovato and Joe Jonas as Mitchie and Shane, but there will also be a little friendly rivalry between the Camp Rockers and a group of musicians at another summer camp, Camp Star, including a love interest for Nick Jonas, played by Chloe Bridges. The JoBros promise the movie's music will be every bit as entertaining as its plot, which has been kept a secret since the movie was shot. "The songs are really cool," Joe told MTV News. (Simplified from: www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/2012-film-review- 1004041300.story/ www.englishdirection.com)
(2) Three Die after Attending Marriage Ceremony
Three residents were killed, while dozens of others were wounded after a pickup truck they were taking to attend a marriage ceremony overturned in Jingkang village, Banyumas Regency, on Sunday. The pickup was carrying 30 passengers, mostly women, when it failed to ascend a steep road on its way back from the ceremony. As a result, the passengers were squeezed. The wounded passengers were later rushed to the Ajibarang regional public hospital. Local police are investigating the cause of the accident (Taken from Jakarta Post).
e. Exercise
v Writing
Choose and analyze the texts below (1) or (2) based on its elements. Paraphrase the points of each element and write them in the table.
(1) Egypt Peacefully Transitions to Military Dictatorship
CAIRO, EGYPT - Following the resignation of President Hosani Mubarak, pro- democracy demonstrators quietly watched as the military dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution. "We have gotten rid of an autocrat," said one demonstrator. "Egypt now has a military junta like many nations in South America." The government will report to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, who have vowed to hold free election in 'six months or more.'" According to Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, military leaders haven't threatened to shoot anyone, should the nation not return to normality. "That's quite a big concession," said Shafiq. "This shows the army cares deeply and is very sincere." Crowds in Tahrir Square were heartened by the news. One man wept openly. "For years we were under the boot of a tyrant (Mubarak) and now we're ruled by the military who have promised not to shoot us. I'm so glad I have Twitter."
(2) Japanese Urged to Try Rioting
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Frustrated by televised scenes of orderly Japanese waiting for water and other supplies, a New Orleans resident has urged the Japanese people to riot. "What are they waiting for?" said Charles Green, 41. "A written invitation?" Green felt that by refraining from looting and attacking fellow citizens the Japanese were missing out on a golden opportunity to shake loose some tension." Green referred to images of police helping Japanese victims instead of ransacking a store and fleeing with lap tops. "Short-sighted," said Green. "That's free stuff. Plus rioting is like a good long run. It releases what I call 'riot endorphins.'" Green hoped the U.S. government would dispatch self-absorbed, unruly Americans to Japan. "They could teach those Japanese to loosen up
a little." Green thought Charlie Sheen would be a good choice as well as a large portion of the Wisconsin Teacher's Union.
Text elements
Elaboration of
v Vocabulary
a. Make a list of words identified as material process in the text a) and b) above; then replace them by other closely related words.