




































Putri Anggraeni, et al / Journal of English Language Teaching 6 (1) (2017) 

73 

 

 
ELT FORUM 7 (2) (2018) 

 

Journal of English Language Teaching 

 
http://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/elt 

 
 

ANALYSIS OF THE GENERIC STRUCTURE OF 

NEWS ITEM ON THE MOST VIEWED VOICE OF 

AMERICA (VOA) LEARNING ENGLISH VIDEOS IN 

FEBRUARY 2016 

 

Ayun Bekti Saparena, Galuh Kirana Dwi Areni, Seful Bahri  

 
English Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

 

Article Info 
________________  
Article History: 

Received in October 

2018  
Approved in November 

2018  

Published in January 

2019 

________________  
Keywords: Generic 
Structure, News Item, 
Voice Of America Learning 
English  
____________________ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract  
___________________________________________________________________ 
This final project focuses on the analysis of the generic structure and lexico-

grammatical features of news item text found in the most viewed Voice of America 

Learning English videos in February 2016. The main purposes of this study are to 

identify how the construction of generic structure and significant lexico—

grammatical features of news item are applied in Voice of America (VOA) Learning 

English videos based on news item text structure analysis. This study is descriptive 

qualitative research. The research data are the transcripts of ten most viewed videos 

sorted during February 2016. The result of analysis of the generic structure shows 

that all texts implemented the generic structure of news item text. All of them used 

the appropriate standard of generic structure of news item text stated by Gerot and 

Wignell. The result of analysis of the lexico-grammatical feature shows that all of 

the elements realized in the texts are well structured. All the texts have been 

arranged and written based on the complete requirements of lexico-grammatical 

feature of news item text stated by experts. However, the researcher found some 

deviations in the text related the use of generic structure and lexico-grammatical 

features of news item. Based on the explanation above, the researcher concludes that 

news item text found in Voice of America Learning English videos generally have 

completed standard generic structure and language features of news item text. 

  
 © 2018 Universitas Negeri Semarang 

  


 Correspondent Address: ISSN 2252-6706 
B3 Building FBS Unnes  

Sekaran, Gunungpati, Semarang, 50229  

E-mail: rasaparena@gmail.com  



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INTRODUCTION 

Video is an easy-to-use digital technology that features in many people’s daily lives. 

According to Hornby (1995), video is a copy of film or movie, program, etc. That is recorded on 

videotape. In this modern era, video is not only recorded on videotape or in the form of compact 

disc. People of all ages can easily enjoy it by streaming via internet, downloading from YouTube, or 

even by watching from a video compact disc. Only by clicking play icon on screen, or play button on 

our remote control, people can directly enjoy the video.   

Video is one of the products of technology development. The existence of video takes in 

charge in the progress of development of modern era. Videos contain many kinds of meaningful 

science and information that can make people have a wider conception about many things in their 

surroundings.  

Video has some strengths which can be used for learning-teaching process, they are: first, 

demonstrating procedures, changes, and process. Learning can be especially effective when the 

learner can control the video with features, including playing or replaying as needed. Second, 

teaching attitudes and values. Emotional materials and / or real life examples can be shown. Text 

may be needed to help explain the attitudes or values. Third, making abstract concept concrete. 

Fourth, classifying and comparing information. For classifying and comparing information, video is 

particularly valuable when the information can be instantly accessed (Peter Fenrich, 2005). 

Talking about video, it is not only about something appeared on screen but also the content it 

has. Most of video makers do not make video for no reason. They absolutely make them for 

something meaningful, even though in a short-length duration. Each video has something which is 

important for the viewer.  

Video consists of motion pictures and the content related to the topic spoken by the speaker. 

So, a video can be classified as a spoken text. As we know, every text has its own structure, which is 

usually called text structure. In this study, the writer focuses on analyzing the text structure of news 

item in some videos published by Voice of America (VOA).  

Learning English is VOA’s multimedia source of news and information for millions of 

English learners worldwide. Its audio programs and captioned videos are written using vocabulary 

at the intermediate and upper-beginner level. The programs are read one-third slower than normal 

English speed.  

Learning English began as Special English, which Voice of America launched in 1959. Special 

English newscasts and features were a primary fixture of VOA’s international shortwave broadcasts 

for more than half a century. In 2014, its line of products was expanded to include more English 

teaching materials, and the service became known as Learning English. 

As the source of news and information, VOA Learning English can be mentioned as spoken 

news item text. Gerot & Wignell develop a simple explanation about the term news item. News item 

is factual text which informs readers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or 

important.  

In this era, there are still many people who do not know about the generic structure of the text 

including the social function of the text, the schematic structure of the text, and its significant 

lexico—grammatical features of the text especially for news item. 

News item text is one of text genres which has certain social purpose. Its social function is to 

provide information to the readers, listeners or viewers about events of the day which are considered 

newsworthy or important (Gerot and Wignell, 1994). In line with it, Hammond, Burn, Joice, 

Brosnan, and Gerot (1992) explain that news item text has function to inform readers or listeners 

about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important. 



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The schematic structures to construct news item text are divided into three stages as follows: 

First, newsworthy event which recounts the event in summary form. This is like the summary of the 

news in few clauses. Second, background event which elaborate what happened to whom in what 

circumstances. In this structure, the events in the news are explained, what the event is, how it 

happens, why it happens, when it happens and who gets involved. The third is sources. It consists of 

comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities expert on the event. 

According to Gerot and Wignell, the language features of news item text are short telegraphic 

information about story captured in headline, the existence of material process to retell the event, the 

use of projecting verbal processes in sources stage and focusing on circumstances. 

Studying the content of the video is important since it can build up our ability to comprehend 

what is delivered and presented on screen, especially for news item. We will be able to understand 

more deeply about what we watch and listen. A group of people perhaps do not watch videos only 

for a pleasure, they must be able to get meaningful information inside. 

Generally, news item is varied in case of its field. It can be about technology, economics, 

education, health, science, entertainment, politics, world news, business, etc. 

In our daily lives, news item is considered as a significant thing. For instance, to be able to 

adapt to this modern era, people need to update and enrich their knowledge and understanding 

about some information concerned with new events of the day. So, it is important to learn more and 

analyze what the core of news item is. It is in line with the objectives of this study that are to identify 

how the construction of generic structure and lexico-grammatical feature of news item which are 

applied in Voice of America (VOA) Learning English. 

METHODS 

The study employs qualitative approach to analyze the data. All of the data in this study are 

in the form of words. Miles and Huberman (1992:15) stated that the qualitative data are usually in 

the form of words, and not in the form of numbers. Quantitative data is numerically while 

qualitative data cannot be put into a context that can be graphed or displayed as a mathematical 

term. Creswell (1994:1) stated that this study is defined as an inquiry process of understanding a 

social or human problem, formed with words, reporting detailed views of information, and 

conducted in a natural setting 

There are two units of analysis in this study. Those are generic structure analysis and language 

features analysis. In news item, the generic structure consists of three components; newsworthy 

event, background event and sources. According to Gerot and Wignell, language features or 

significant lexico-grammatical features analysis consists of short information about story captured in 

headline, use material process to retell the event, use of projecting verbal processes in sources stage, 

and focus on circumstances. 

There are several steps taken to collect the data in this study. The first thing the writer to do is 

sorting and listing the videos according their interests.  The writer monitors and makes sure how 

many videos published and how many viewers for each published video during the beginning of the 

year until the end of February 2016. In the end of February 2016, the writer finds the final results of 

which videos that have most viewers for each interest. The writer makes a list of chosen videos that 

then will be used as objects of analysis. The chosen videos are listed in a table like below. 

Since the writer uses the qualitative approach in analyzing the data, all the data will be in the 

form of words. Additionally, the results of the investigation will be presented in a narrative form. 

 



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Text number  

Name of the video  

Total viewers  

Interest  

Date of publication  

Duration of the video  

The name of video announcer  

Table 2.1 Lists of videos 

 

In collecting the data, the next step to do is to download the videos. The videos of VOA 

Learning English are not only broadcasted on radio and TV satellite, but also posted in the internet. 

It makes easier for the writer to download the videos since VOA posted the whole broadcasted 

videos on both radio and TV satellite in its official YouTube channel. 

After downloading the videos, the writer watches the videos frequently. To make the process 

of analysis easier, the writer carefully transcribes all chosen videos into paragraphs. The writer also 

rechecks the accuracy of the transcripts. 

To answer the statement of the problem, the researcher used descriptive qualitative method in 

analysing the data. In the process of analyzing data, the writer did several steps. The very first thing 

that the writer do is reading and re-reading the transcripts to make deeply understand about the 

texts. After that, the writer underlined some important words and broke down the transcripts into 

smaller parts, sentence by sentence, and clause by clause. The next is analyzing the generic structure 

of news item text 

The table below is the table analysis of generic structure of news item texts found in VOA 

Learning English videos. The data that had been identified were then classified based on their 

elements. 

 

Position of the Sentence Element Text 

Tx, Sx Newsworthy event  

Tx, Sx Background event  

Tx, Sx Sources  

Table 2.2 Table analysis of generic structure of news item 

There are three columns in the table above. The first column is used to the position of data. T 

is for Text, while S means the position of sentences in the text. The second column is used for the 

element of news item text. There are three elements in news item text, newsworthy event, 

background event, and sources. The next column is used to place the part of the text which is 

included into the elements.  

The data that had been analyzed in the table were then reported into words. In explaining the 

generic structure tables, the writer also referred to the theoretical review stated by Gerot and 

Wignell. The analysis of the language features of news item texts found in VOA Learning English 

videos was presented in the table 3.3. The texts were broken down into clauses as the broader 

elements to be classified. 



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Position of 

the clause 
Clause 

Short information 

about story 

captured in 

headline 

Material 

processes 

Verbal 

processes 

Circum-

stances 

Tx, Cx      

Table 3.3 Table analysis of lexico-grammatical features of news item 

The first column is for the position of the clause in the text. The second column is for placing 

the clause that is analyzed. The next four columns are used for the analysis of lexico-grammatical 

features realized in news item texts. All data in the tables become the findings of this study. 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 

There are two components that need to be analyzed by the researcher to reveal how the 

constructions of the generic structure and lexico-grammatical features of news item text are. There 

are 10 video transcripts to be analysed.  

The result of analysis about the generic structure of news item text found in VOA Learning 

English is that all the texts implemented the generic structure of news item text. All of them shows 

the appropriate standard of generic structure of news item text. There are newsworthy event, 

background event, and sources in each text. Almost all the newsworthy events of the texts are in the 

first sentence or in the beginning of the text since it tells us what the texts are about. However, the 

writer found that there are two texts which newsworthy events are not in the very first sentence or in 

the very beginning of the text. The newsworthy event is in the fourth and fifth sentence of the text. 

The first sentence until the third sentence do not summarize the event of the day. They do not give 

the summary of the event. So, they cannot be called as newsworthy event of the text even though 

they are in the beginning of the text. 

Since newsworthy event recounts the event in summary form, it is like the summary of the 

news in few clauses. All the texts shows that the newsworthy events are only in few clauses. 

However, the writer found that there is one newsworthy event that seems to have many clauses. It 

consists of three sentences and has seven clauses. They are connected each other in terms of 

meaning so they cannot be separated. Those clauses refers to the summary of the event about the 

study. 

In background event, the researcher can also find some information about how the events of 

the texts happened. The second element of the generic structure of news item text tells the reader the 

elaboration of what happened, to whom, in what circumstances. In this structure, the events in the 

news are explained, what the event is, how it happens, why it happens, when it happens and who 

gets involved. 

The positions of the background events telling about what happened in the text are varied. 

Generally, all texts tell what the event is about and what happened in the event.  

In the background event of generic structure of news item text, there are some sentences that 

mention who get involved in the event. They tell whoever are in charge of occurring to something or 

event. The results show that the people, company or organisation, or group of people who get 

involved in the event are mentioned in the element of generic structure called background event. 

Who get involved in the events for each text are varied. There are names of company like The new 

Ford Escape, The Heedful Audio Alert System, Sober Steering, and Alibaba Group, names of 



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people like Reed Hastings, Sunny Jung, Walter Willett, Frank Hu, Lamar Alexander, Patty Murray 

and Joe Tsai, and a name of group of people like The engineering students.  

Nonetheless, the findings shows that background event in text 6 does not tell who is involved 

in the event of text. It has been mentioned in newsworthy event element of the text. The 

newsworthy event of text 6 has completely mentioned that the subject The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services is determined as an organisation 

who get involved in the event. Generally, the background event element exists in each text. 

Background event in each text tells the elaboration of what happened in the event. 

The third element of the generic structure of news item text is sources element. Sources 

element contains the comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorities expert on the event. 

The sources stage of the text can be easily recognized by looking at the existence of verbal processes. 

Some examples of the texts show some comments and opinions saying by participants, experts or 

the witnesses who are related to the event. Based on the findings, we can found the sources element 

in each text. 

Generally, all the text implemented the elements of generic structure of news item text stated 

by Gerot and Wignell. The writer found that all texts have newsworthy event, background event, 

and sources. 

As a general rule, the construction of the generic structure of news item text is started from 

newsworthy event as the first element, background event as the second element, and the sources as 

the third element.  

Surprisingly, the findings show that the constructions of the generic structure found in the 

texts are varied. Not all texts are arranged based on the chronological order of the generic structure 

of news item text which is started with newsworthy event then followed with its background event, 

and closed with sources element. 

The results of analysis show that the constructions of the generic structure found in ten texts 

are varied. The analysis of generic structure of news item in text 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 shows that 

those texts are arranged based on the chronological order of the generic structure of news item text. 

Nonetheless, the generic structures found in all those texts have some repetition of the elements. For 

instance, the construction of generic structure in text 1 is started with newsworthy event. It is then 

followed with background event and the sources. After the sources, there are some background 

events again followed the sources. The diagrams of the constructions of the generic structure element 

in text 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are as follows: 

(1) NE → BE → S → BE 

(4) NE → BE → S → BE 

(5) NE → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S 

(7) NE → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S 

(8) NE → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S 

(9) NE → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S 

(10) NE → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE 

NE is for Newsworthy Event. BE means Background Event. S is for Sources. 

 Another three texts show the different chronological orders of the generic structure of news 

item text. As we know that commonly the generic structure of news item is started with newsworthy 

event, then followed with background event and ended with the sources. The analysis of generic 

structure of news item in text 2, 3, and 6 are not like that. The text 2 is started with background 

event in the very beginning of the text. It is followed with newsworthy event. It is then followed with 

sources. After the sources, there is a background event. It is followed with sources, background 

event, sources, background event, and sources again and finally ended with background event. The 

diagram of the construction of the generic structure element found in text 2 is as follows: 



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BE → NE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE 

Based on the analysis, the construction of the generic structure element in text 3 is started with 

newsworthy event. It is then followed with sources. After the sources, there is background event. It 

is then followed with sources, background event, sources, and ended with background event. The 

diagram of the construction of the generic structure element found in text 3 is as follows: 

NE → S → BE → S → BE → S → BE 

The construction of the generic structure found in text 6 is started with background event then 

followed with newsworthy event. It is then followed with background event again. After background 

event, it is followed with sources, background event again, sources again, background event again, 

and finally closed with sources stage. The diagram of the construction of the generic structure 

element found in text 6 is as follows: 

BE → NE → BE → S → BE → S → BE → S 

Generally, all the text implemented the elements of generic structure of news item text stated 

by Gerot and Wignell even though each text has the different chronological order of the generic 

structure. The writer found that all texts have newsworthy event, background event, and sources. 

All elements of generic structure are available in the text. Nonetheless, the researcher found a 

deviation of element in text 7 which shows an ambiguity. It is in the first sentence of the text. It 

brings an ambiguity for the element of generic structure of news item text.  Since it is in the very 

beginning of the text, it can be called as newsworthy event. However, it is difficult to be called as a 

newsworthy event since it does not recount the event in summary form. The writer cannot find the 

summary of the event in that sentence. The newsworthy event should give simple and short 

summary of the event in the text. However, we can call it as sources element, since it used the word 

‘says’ which indicates the process of saying and gives information source for the topic of the text. 

The second finding of this study is about how the lexico-grammatical features of news item 

realized in the texts. The elements of lexico-grammatical feature of news item text are divided into 

four elements. They are short information about story captured in headline, the use of material 

processes and verbal processes, and focusing on circumstances.  

Generally, the headlines of the texts captured short information about the event. There are 

some headlines that are written in the form of sentence. There are also found some simple headlines 

which are only in few words. It does not matter if the headlines are written in the form of sentence, 

in the form of simple clause or even in the form of noun. The most significant thing is that the 

headline of the text captures short and telegraphic information about the event or story in the text. 

The words such as changes, streams, plays, curl, bring, developed, studies, makes, leads, 

signed, bought, and set up are the examples of process of doing realized in the texts. Material 

processes take both the active and passive voice. The words such as are designed, were sent, were 

published, is exposed, is linked, are updated, was approved, was sold, and is created presented 

material processes realized in the texts in passive form. Both material processes in active and passive 

voice found in the texts actually have the same function that are to tell or retell the event in the text. 

Verbal processes are process of saying, or more accurately, of symbolically signaling. Verbal 

processes in news item text can be easily found in the sources element of generic structure of the 

text. The existence of verbal processes is also used to indicate which part of the text belongs to 

sources element. In verbal processes, there are two kinds of function, verbal processes used for 

quoting and verbal processes used for reporting. For instance, the word ‘says’ in sample (68) and in 

sample (69) are quite different. In sample (68), the word ‘says’ is for quoting since there is a quote 

saying by someone in double quotations. While in sample (69), the word ‘says’ is for reporting, since 

it is used to report someone saying.  

The fourth part of the lexico-grammatical features of news item text is circumstances. 

Circumstances answer such question as when, where, why, how, how many, and as what. They 



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realize meaning about time, place, manner, cause, accompaniment, matter and role of the text. The 

researcher found some samples which are considered the statements about when something is 

started and created. The existence of the year indicates that the sentence contains time 

circumstances. There is also found an adverb of time answering how often. It tells the reader how 

often something is updated.  

According to the findings, there are also found some circumstances answering question 

where. There are found some adverbs of place telling where the event happened. The existence of 

the name of cities around the world indicated the adverbs of place of an event. 

In addition, meaning about manner answering question how, in the form of comparison is 

also realised in the text. The researcher found the word ‘like’ which tells like what and is probed by 

what like. Here, subject X is compared to something else or subject Y in terms of particular 

behaviour.  

The result of analysis found that there are some circumstances answering question why 

implemented in some texts. The writer found two kinds of cause circumstances, the first is purpose 

and the second is reason. Purpose tells the reason why something is done or used and is probed by 

what for. The existence of the word ‘for’ can be used to indicate the purpose of why something is 

done. Different with purpose, reason contains a statement or fact that explains why something is the 

way it is, why someone does, thinks, or says something, or why someone behaves a certain way. 

The researcher found a sentence with conjunction ‘because’, and it shows the reason answering why 

something is the way it is. Because is one of the conjunction which is usually used to tell a reason. 

In the circumstances, there is an element called accompaniment. It tells with(out) who or 

what and is probed by who or what else. The researcher found the sentence which tells the 

construction of something ‘with’ something. It show that the text implemented the circumstances of 

accompaniment.  

Another circumstances found in the texts are matter and role. Matter tells about what or with 

reference to what and is probed by what about. The examples of matter are presented in some 

sentences of the text. The researcher found that the word ‘about’ is used as the sign of the existence 

of matter. 

Role in circumstances tells what as and is probed by as what. Role is a part that someone or 

something has in a particular activity or situation. The existence of the word ‘as’ can be used to see 

that there is role in circumstances in the text. The conjunction ‘as’ indicates the existence of role in 

the sentence. Generally, four elements of lexico-grammatical features of news item text mentioned 

above are realized in the texts.  

For the construction of the lexico-grammatical features, the researcher found some deviations. 

The example of deviations is presented in the headline of text 3. The headline of the text does not 

give short information about the event. It is not a simple sentence that captures what happened 

related to the story. Since it is a question sentence, it actually does not tell a certain information 

about something. It seems to ask for the audience’s opinion about something. The headline has not 

completed the element of lexico-grammatical features of news item text in which the headline 

captures the short information about the story. 

In short, based on the results of analysis, the findings of this study show that all of the 

elements of lexico-grammatical feature used in the text are well structured. Generally, all the 

elements are realized in each text. It can be said that all the texts has been arranged and written 

based on the complete requirements of lexico-grammatical feature of report text stated by Gerot and 

Wignell. 



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CONCLUSIONS 

Based on the results and discussions in this study, the researcher can conclude that all the 

elements of generic structure are implemented in the texts. Generally, all the texts completed the 

requirement of the generic structure as stated by Gerot and Wignell.  

The deviation of the generic structure element is also found in the text. There is one element 

which considered bring an ambiguity whether it is called newsworthy element or sources element of 

the text. Overall, all the texts are well-structured in terms of generic structure. 

The results of analysis show that the constructions of the generic structure found in the texts 

are varied. Not all texts are arranged based on the standard chronological order of the generic 

structure of news item text which is started with newsworthy event then followed with its 

background event, and ended with sources element. Seven texts show that they are arranged based 

on the standard chronological order of the generic structure of news item text. The other three texts 

shows the unusual chronological order of the generic structure of news item text. However, all 

elements of the generic structure are realized in each text.  

The result of data analysis on how the construction of significant lexico—grammatical 

features of news item text shows that all the elements are implemented in the texts. They are mostly 

well-structured. In contrast, there is a text which headline does not give short and telegraphic 

information about the story. This deviation makes the text does not complete the requirements of 

language features found in news item text. 

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Cresswell, J. W. 1994. Research Design Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. California: Sage Publication, 

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Fenrich, Peter. 2005. Creating Instructional Multimedia Solutions: Practical Guidelines for the Real World. 

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Gerot, L. and P. Wignell. 1994. Making Sense of Functional Grammar. Australia: Macquire University. 

Hammonds, J, Burns, A, Joice, H, Brosnan, D, and Gerot L. 1992.  English for Social Purpose. Sidney: 

Marquarie University. 

Hornby, A.S. 1995. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Miles, B and Huberman, M. Qualitative Data Analysis. Sage Publication, Inc, dan terjemahannya oleh Rohidi 

Rohendi, T. 1992. Analisis Data Kualitatif. Jakarta: Universitas Indonesia. 


