This document outlines the generic structure and language features of a news item. A news item reports important or newsworthy events of the day. It typically includes a recount of the newsworthy event, background details about what happened, and sources like comments from participants, witnesses, or authorities. Language features include a short headline, use of action verbs, projecting verbs to attribute sources, and adverbs focusing on circumstances like time and location. An example news item summarizes a Russian journalist uncovering evidence of a Soviet nuclear accident that killed 10 sailors and contaminated a town, but was covered up by officials.

1. NEWS ITEM

2. NEWS ITEM
 It is used to report to the readers,
listeners or viewers about events of
the day which are considered
newsworthy or important.

3. generic structure: NEWS ITEM
 NEWSWORTHY EVENT(S)
recounts of the event in summary form
 BACKGROUND EVENTS
elaborate what happened, to whom, in what
situation/circumstances
 SOURCES
original comments by participants, witnesses to
and authorities expert on the event, etc.

4. Language Features of News Item
 Short, telegraphic information about story captured
in headline
 Use of material processes/action verbs to retell the
story or event
 Use of projecting verbal processes in “Source” stage
(e.g. the police said…; the witness thought …)
* Using adverb like: badly injured, the most beautiful
bride in the world.
 Focus on circumstances
(e.g. last night, just this morning, at that time, etc)

5. Example and Generic Structure
Town Contaminated
NEWSWORTHY EVENT
Moscow: A Russian journalist has
uncovered evidence of another Soviet
nuclear catastrophe, which killed 10
sailors and contaminated an entire town

6. Background/elaboration
Velena Vazrshavskya is the first journalist
to speak to people who witnessed the
explotion of a nuclear submarine at the
nava bas of shkotovo – 22 near
Vladivostock.
The accident, which occurred 13 months
before the Chaernobyl disaster, spread
radioactive fall – out over the base and
nearby town, but was covered up by
officials of the Soviet Union.

7. Residents were told the explosion in
the reactor of the Victor class
submarine during a refit had been a
thermal and not a nuclear explosion.
And those involved in the clean up
operation to remove more than 600
tones of contaminated material were
sworn to secrecy.

8. Source of Information
A board of investigators was later to
describe it as the worst accident in
the history of the Soviet Navy.