diff --git a/src/company_cmd.cpp b/src/company_cmd.cpp
index 1c79c4b8a5..3c5e5f5c75 100644
--- a/src/company_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/company_cmd.cpp
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ set_name:;
 		MarkWholeScreenDirty();
 
 		if (c->is_ai) {
-			CompanyNewsInformation *cni = MallocT<CompanyNewsInformation>(1);
+			CompanyNewsInformation *cni = new CompanyNewsInformation();
 			cni->FillData(c);
 			SetDParam(0, STR_NEWS_COMPANY_LAUNCH_TITLE);
 			SetDParam(1, STR_NEWS_COMPANY_LAUNCH_DESCRIPTION);
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ CommandCost CmdCompanyCtrl(TileIndex tile, DoCommandFlag flags, uint32 p1, uint3
 
 			/* Delete any open window of the company */
 			CloseCompanyWindows(c->index);
-			CompanyNewsInformation *cni = MallocT<CompanyNewsInformation>(1);
+			CompanyNewsInformation *cni = new CompanyNewsInformation();
 			cni->FillData(c);
 
 			/* Show the bankrupt news */
diff --git a/src/economy.cpp b/src/economy.cpp
index 7f14bed8ad..cb45d55b75 100644
--- a/src/economy.cpp
+++ b/src/economy.cpp
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ static void CompanyCheckBankrupt(Company *c)
 
 		/* Warn about bankruptcy after 3 months */
 		case 4: {
-			CompanyNewsInformation *cni = MallocT<CompanyNewsInformation>(1);
+			CompanyNewsInformation *cni = new CompanyNewsInformation();
 			cni->FillData(c);
 			SetDParam(0, STR_NEWS_COMPANY_IN_TROUBLE_TITLE);
 			SetDParam(1, STR_NEWS_COMPANY_IN_TROUBLE_DESCRIPTION);
@@ -1975,7 +1975,7 @@ static void DoAcquireCompany(Company *c)
 {
 	CompanyID ci = c->index;
 
-	CompanyNewsInformation *cni = MallocT<CompanyNewsInformation>(1);
+	CompanyNewsInformation *cni = new CompanyNewsInformation();
 	cni->FillData(c, Company::Get(_current_company));
 
 	SetDParam(0, STR_NEWS_COMPANY_MERGER_TITLE);
diff --git a/src/news_func.h b/src/news_func.h
index 2131c8a749..3f21f3dca1 100644
--- a/src/news_func.h
+++ b/src/news_func.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #include "station_type.h"
 #include "industry_type.h"
 
-void AddNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, NewsFlag flags, NewsReferenceType reftype1 = NR_NONE, uint32 ref1 = UINT32_MAX, NewsReferenceType reftype2 = NR_NONE, uint32 ref2 = UINT32_MAX, void *free_data = nullptr);
+void AddNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, NewsFlag flags, NewsReferenceType reftype1 = NR_NONE, uint32 ref1 = UINT32_MAX, NewsReferenceType reftype2 = NR_NONE, uint32 ref2 = UINT32_MAX, const NewsAllocatedData *data = nullptr);
 
 static inline void AddCompanyNewsItem(StringID string, CompanyNewsInformation *cni)
 {
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ static inline void AddVehicleAdviceNewsItem(StringID string, VehicleID vehicle)
 	AddNewsItem(string, NT_ADVICE, NF_INCOLOUR | NF_SMALL | NF_VEHICLE_PARAM0, NR_VEHICLE, vehicle);
 }
 
-static inline void AddTileNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, TileIndex tile, void *free_data = nullptr, StationID station = INVALID_STATION)
+static inline void AddTileNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, TileIndex tile, const NewsAllocatedData *data = nullptr, StationID station = INVALID_STATION)
 {
-	AddNewsItem(string, type, NF_NO_TRANSPARENT | NF_SHADE | NF_THIN, NR_TILE, tile, station == INVALID_STATION ? NR_NONE : NR_STATION, station, free_data);
+	AddNewsItem(string, type, NF_NO_TRANSPARENT | NF_SHADE | NF_THIN, NR_TILE, tile, station == INVALID_STATION ? NR_NONE : NR_STATION, station, data);
 }
 
 static inline void AddIndustryNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, IndustryID industry)
diff --git a/src/news_gui.cpp b/src/news_gui.cpp
index 5c72f87410..fb03207150 100644
--- a/src/news_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/news_gui.cpp
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ struct NewsWindow : Window {
 				break;
 
 			case WID_N_MGR_NAME:
-				SetDParamStr(0, static_cast<const CompanyNewsInformation *>(this->ni->free_data)->president_name);
+				SetDParamStr(0, static_cast<const CompanyNewsInformation *>(this->ni->data)->president_name);
 				str = STR_JUST_RAW_STRING;
 				break;
 
@@ -433,13 +433,13 @@ struct NewsWindow : Window {
 				break;
 
 			case WID_N_MGR_FACE: {
-				const CompanyNewsInformation *cni = (const CompanyNewsInformation*)this->ni->free_data;
+				const CompanyNewsInformation *cni = static_cast<const CompanyNewsInformation*>(this->ni->data);
 				DrawCompanyManagerFace(cni->face, cni->colour, r.left, r.top);
 				GfxFillRect(r.left, r.top, r.right, r.bottom, PALETTE_NEWSPAPER, FILLRECT_RECOLOUR);
 				break;
 			}
 			case WID_N_MGR_NAME: {
-				const CompanyNewsInformation *cni = (const CompanyNewsInformation*)this->ni->free_data;
+				const CompanyNewsInformation *cni = static_cast<const CompanyNewsInformation*>(this->ni->data);
 				SetDParamStr(0, cni->president_name);
 				DrawStringMultiLine(r.left, r.right, r.top, r.bottom, STR_JUST_RAW_STRING, TC_FROMSTRING, SA_CENTER);
 				break;
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ static void DeleteNewsItem(NewsItem *ni)
  *
  * @see NewsSubtype
  */
-void AddNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, NewsFlag flags, NewsReferenceType reftype1, uint32 ref1, NewsReferenceType reftype2, uint32 ref2, void *free_data)
+void AddNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, NewsFlag flags, NewsReferenceType reftype1, uint32 ref1, NewsReferenceType reftype2, uint32 ref2, const NewsAllocatedData *data)
 {
 	if (_game_mode == GM_MENU) return;
 
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ void AddNewsItem(StringID string, NewsType type, NewsFlag flags, NewsReferenceTy
 	ni->reftype2 = reftype2;
 	ni->ref1 = ref1;
 	ni->ref2 = ref2;
-	ni->free_data = free_data;
+	ni->data = data;
 	ni->date = _date;
 	CopyOutDParam(ni->params, 0, lengthof(ni->params));
 
@@ -882,8 +882,8 @@ CommandCost CmdCustomNewsItem(TileIndex tile, DoCommandFlag flags, uint32 p1, ui
 	if (company != INVALID_OWNER && company != _local_company) return CommandCost();
 
 	if (flags & DC_EXEC) {
-		char *news = stredup(text.c_str());
-		SetDParamStr(0, news);
+		NewsStringData *news = new NewsStringData(text);
+		SetDParamStr(0, news->string);
 		AddNewsItem(STR_NEWS_CUSTOM_ITEM, type, NF_NORMAL, reftype1, p2, NR_NONE, UINT32_MAX, news);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/news_type.h b/src/news_type.h
index 1929804e4b..bed8f16e7c 100644
--- a/src/news_type.h
+++ b/src/news_type.h
@@ -115,6 +115,12 @@ struct NewsTypeData {
 	NewsDisplay GetDisplay() const;
 };
 
+/** Container for any custom data that must be deleted after the news item has reached end-of-life. */
+struct NewsAllocatedData {
+	virtual ~NewsAllocatedData() {}
+};
+
+
 /** Information about a single item of news. */
 struct NewsItem {
 	NewsItem *prev;              ///< Previous news item
@@ -129,23 +135,29 @@ struct NewsItem {
 	uint32 ref1;                 ///< Reference 1 to some object: Used for a possible viewport, scrolling after clicking on the news, and for deleting the news when the object is deleted.
 	uint32 ref2;                 ///< Reference 2 to some object: Used for scrolling after clicking on the news, and for deleting the news when the object is deleted.
 
-	void *free_data;             ///< Data to be freed when the news item has reached its end.
+	const NewsAllocatedData *data; ///< Custom data for the news item that have to be deallocated (deleted) when the news item has reached its end.
 
 	~NewsItem()
 	{
-		free(this->free_data);
+		delete this->data;
 	}
 
 	uint64 params[10]; ///< Parameters for string resolving.
 };
 
+/** Container for a single string to be passed as NewsAllocatedData. */
+struct NewsStringData : NewsAllocatedData {
+	std::string string; ///< The string to retain.
+	NewsStringData(const std::string &str) : string(str) {}
+};
+
 /**
  * Data that needs to be stored for company news messages.
  * The problem with company news messages are the custom name
  * of the companies and the fact that the company data is reset,
  * resulting in wrong names and such.
  */
-struct CompanyNewsInformation {
+struct CompanyNewsInformation : NewsAllocatedData {
 	char company_name[64];       ///< The name of the company
 	char president_name[64];     ///< The name of the president
 	char other_company_name[64]; ///< The name of the company taking over this one
diff --git a/src/subsidy.cpp b/src/subsidy.cpp
index 8800da1bd0..28cb0d3ccb 100644
--- a/src/subsidy.cpp
+++ b/src/subsidy.cpp
@@ -43,22 +43,19 @@ void Subsidy::AwardTo(CompanyID company)
 	this->awarded = company;
 	this->remaining = _settings_game.difficulty.subsidy_duration * MONTHS_IN_YEAR;
 
-	char company_name[MAX_LENGTH_COMPANY_NAME_CHARS * MAX_CHAR_LENGTH];
 	SetDParam(0, company);
-	GetString(company_name, STR_COMPANY_NAME, lastof(company_name));
-
-	char *cn = stredup(company_name);
+	NewsStringData *company_name = new NewsStringData(GetString(STR_COMPANY_NAME));
 
 	/* Add a news item */
 	std::pair<NewsReferenceType, NewsReferenceType> reftype = SetupSubsidyDecodeParam(this, SubsidyDecodeParamType::NewsAwarded);
 	InjectDParam(1);
 
-	SetDParamStr(0, cn);
+	SetDParamStr(0, company_name->string);
 	AddNewsItem(
 		STR_NEWS_SERVICE_SUBSIDY_AWARDED_HALF + _settings_game.difficulty.subsidy_multiplier,
 		NT_SUBSIDIES, NF_NORMAL,
 		reftype.first, this->src, reftype.second, this->dst,
-		cn
+		company_name
 	);
 	AI::BroadcastNewEvent(new ScriptEventSubsidyAwarded(this->index));
 	Game::NewEvent(new ScriptEventSubsidyAwarded(this->index));
diff --git a/src/town_cmd.cpp b/src/town_cmd.cpp
index d397825afc..b21d0ab714 100644
--- a/src/town_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/town_cmd.cpp
@@ -2020,15 +2020,13 @@ CommandCost CmdFoundTown(TileIndex tile, DoCommandFlag flags, uint32 p1, uint32
 				SetDParam(0, t->index);
 				AddTileNewsItem(STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN_UNSPONSORED, NT_INDUSTRY_OPEN, tile);
 			} else {
-				char company_name[MAX_LENGTH_COMPANY_NAME_CHARS * MAX_CHAR_LENGTH];
 				SetDParam(0, _current_company);
-				GetString(company_name, STR_COMPANY_NAME, lastof(company_name));
+				NewsStringData *company_name = new NewsStringData(GetString(STR_COMPANY_NAME));
 
-				char *cn = stredup(company_name);
-				SetDParamStr(0, cn);
+				SetDParamStr(0, company_name->string);
 				SetDParam(1, t->index);
 
-				AddTileNewsItem(STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN, NT_INDUSTRY_OPEN, tile, cn);
+				AddTileNewsItem(STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN, NT_INDUSTRY_OPEN, tile, company_name);
 			}
 			AI::BroadcastNewEvent(new ScriptEventTownFounded(t->index));
 			Game::NewEvent(new ScriptEventTownFounded(t->index));
@@ -3090,15 +3088,13 @@ static CommandCost TownActionRoadRebuild(Town *t, DoCommandFlag flags)
 	if (flags & DC_EXEC) {
 		t->road_build_months = 6;
 
-		char company_name[MAX_LENGTH_COMPANY_NAME_CHARS * MAX_CHAR_LENGTH];
 		SetDParam(0, _current_company);
-		GetString(company_name, STR_COMPANY_NAME, lastof(company_name));
+		NewsStringData *company_name = new NewsStringData(GetString(STR_COMPANY_NAME));
 
-		char *cn = stredup(company_name);
 		SetDParam(0, t->index);
-		SetDParamStr(1, cn);
+		SetDParamStr(1, company_name->string);
 
-		AddNewsItem(STR_NEWS_ROAD_REBUILDING, NT_GENERAL, NF_NORMAL, NR_TOWN, t->index, NR_NONE, UINT32_MAX, cn);
+		AddNewsItem(STR_NEWS_ROAD_REBUILDING, NT_GENERAL, NF_NORMAL, NR_TOWN, t->index, NR_NONE, UINT32_MAX, company_name);
 		AI::BroadcastNewEvent(new ScriptEventRoadReconstruction((ScriptCompany::CompanyID)(Owner)_current_company, t->index));
 		Game::NewEvent(new ScriptEventRoadReconstruction((ScriptCompany::CompanyID)(Owner)_current_company, t->index));
 	}
@@ -3235,7 +3231,7 @@ static CommandCost TownActionBuyRights(Town *t, DoCommandFlag flags)
 		SetWindowClassesDirty(WC_STATION_VIEW);
 
 		/* Spawn news message */
-		CompanyNewsInformation *cni = MallocT<CompanyNewsInformation>(1);
+		CompanyNewsInformation *cni = new CompanyNewsInformation();
 		cni->FillData(Company::Get(_current_company));
 		SetDParam(0, STR_NEWS_EXCLUSIVE_RIGHTS_TITLE);
 		SetDParam(1, STR_NEWS_EXCLUSIVE_RIGHTS_DESCRIPTION);