This article discusses the problems involved in reading and interpreting news reports. While newspaper writers present news items based on their own perception of events, the readers for their part, have limited opportunities to validate news items presented to them. Critical reading of news reports can be enhanced by understanding of 1) transitivity and voice, 2) linguistic representation and lexical cohesion, 3) careful juxtapositioning of paragraphs and 4) grammatical parallelism and questions in news reports. This analysis provides teachers of reading to second language students with some practical insights for teaching students to be more critical readers.