diff --git a/news_gui.c b/news_gui.c
--- a/news_gui.c
+++ b/news_gui.c
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ void AddNewsItem(StringID string, uint32
 	ni->flags = (byte)(flags >> 8) | NF_NOEXPIRE;
 
 	// show this news message in color?
-	if (_date >= ConvertIntDate(_patches.colored_news_date))
+	if (_date >= ConvertIntDate(_patches.colored_news_year))
 		ni->flags |= NF_INCOLOR;
 
 	ni->type = (byte)(flags >> 16);