This study used online responses, observation fieldnotes, and interviews to analyze eight student teachers' learning through text-based protocols on news analysis during their practicum, a core component for beginning teachers' competence construction, in a language teacher education program in the northwest of Taiwan. This study revealed that student teachers regarded the text-based protocols as useful pedagogical tools, particularly offering a clear focus on reading and analyzing the news. Through face-to-face and Facebook discussions on 33 news reports, student teachers became familiar with the latest policies and trends on English education, constructed their pedagogical competence in English instructional strategies, and examined the gap between policies and practice on the co-teaching model. Suggestions on effective implementation of the text-based protocols on discussing education news are provided in terms of preparation of a variety of news or issues, selection of the appropriate text-based protocols, and integration of theories on news analysis and discussions.