var iNoItems = (itemCount < 4) ? itemCount : 4;

document.writeln('<ul class="list-item">');

var strTitle;
var strDesc;

for (var x=0; x< iNoItems; x++)
{
  strTitle = String(items[x]['newsTitle']);
  if (strTitle.length > 19)
    strTitle = strTitle.substr(0,19) + "...";
  strDesc = String(items[x]['newsDesc']);
  if (strDesc.length > 20)
    strDesc = strDesc.substr(0,55) + "...";
	document.writeln('<li><a href="' + items[x]['newsURL'] + '">' + strTitle + '</a><br />');
	document.writeln(strDesc);
	document.writeln('</li>');
} 

document.writeln('</ul>');