protected function fetchNewsItems($begin, $end, $limit = null, $offset = null)
    {
        if (($criteria = $this->getSearchCriteria($begin, $end)) === null) {
            return null;
        }

        $criteria->setLimit($limit);
        $criteria->setOffset($offset);

        return NewsModel::findBy($criteria->getColumns(), $criteria->getValues(), $criteria->getOptions());
	}