diff --git a/news_gui.c b/news_gui.c
index 6ec0c35594..d323d83ff6 100644
--- a/news_gui.c
+++ b/news_gui.c
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ void AddNewsItem(StringID string, uint32 flags, uint data_a, uint data_b)
 
 	// add news to _latest_news
 	ni = &_news_items[_latest_news];
+	memset(ni, 0, sizeof(ni));
 
 	ni->string_id = string;
 	ni->display_mode = (byte)flags;