diff --git a/Classes/Domain/Repository/NewsRepository.php b/Classes/Domain/Repository/NewsRepository.php
index f48aae0f340953649ec78865a85fcaa64c30e9eb..393250b13f3a9e5120adb29d62143bdfe3f9a2a3 100644
--- a/Classes/Domain/Repository/NewsRepository.php
+++ b/Classes/Domain/Repository/NewsRepository.php
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ class NewsRepository extends AbstractRepository {
 	 * @return QueryInterface
 	 * @throws \TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Persistence\Exception\InvalidQueryException
 	 */
-	public function getQueryForLastUpdatedOrHighlightedNewsByCategories(
+	protected function getQueryForLastUpdatedOrHighlightedNewsByCategories(
 		$limit = 1, $onlyHighlighted = FALSE, array $categoryIds = NULL,
 		$offset = 0, $hideNeverHighlightedNews = FALSE, $sortBy = 'date', array $tagIds = NULL
 	) {