Monday January 25, 2010

Writing headlines. Due at the close of class; please post your responses.

In reading over Thursday's stories, one problem some folks had was misleading headlines. While there were attempts at humor, the facts presented were about the boy's deaths, and not the waitress, who had served them alcohol. As a journalist, one should understand that headline writing is a difficult art. Not only is it hard to do in the space allowed, but it is full of pitfalls that can make the newspaper look foolish: mistakes in grammar and spelling, double entendres, incomprehensible ideas. Try to avoid these pitfalls.



Take a few moments to read the Dos and Don'ts of headline writing below.



DO
Read the article, especially the opening paragraphs, to understand the purpose and main idea.
Give the most general, overall focus/summary of the story.
Remember that the headline may be the only reason the reader decides to read the story (Entry point.)
Avoid headlines that can have more than one interpretation.
Limit the number of words -- 6 to 10, generally
Use strong, active verbs. (To be verbs are generally understood, but not written out.)
Use present tense verbs.
Express a complete thought. Headlines usually read like simple sentences.
Use a secondary headline -- or subhead -- to convey an additional idea of a story.
Substitute a comma for the word "and."
Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns and adjectives. (This rule can be waived if your newspaper's style is for up-style headlines.)
Write a headline that is grammatically correct.

DON'T
Mislead the reader about the content of the article. Avoid downplay, exaggeration, sensationalism.
Use the name of the school unless it's absolutely necessary.
Use the verbs "participate" or "experience."
Use labels or phrases for headlines.
Put a period at the end of a headline.
Use names, unless very well recognized. Use grades or positions instead.
Use abbreviations or slang.
Trivialize a serious story with the inappropriate use of puns or other word play.
Separate words that belong together in a phrase. (All words in infinitives and prepositional phrases should be on one line.)
Use more than one banner headline on a page.
Repeat words on the same page. (Very common on sports pages.)
Capitalize every word or every important word.
Use "a," "an" or "the."

Please read the following bad headlines and post your corrections on the blog.
You might want to copy and past the horrible one's in and write your correction below.
Horrible headlines

These are REAL headlines that appeared in daily newspapers. They were featured in the Columbia Journalism Review's Lowercase column.

1. America's new war: Japanese still eyeing Hawaii



2. Taxpayer role proposed in future terror acts



3. Editor's wife rented to two suspects, FBI says



4. Students return to ground zero high



5. Nightclub liquor license denied, close-by Lansing church objects



6. Scientists spot plant outside solar system



Many businesses say English must be spoken on by workers



7. Sikh student suspended over dagger



8. Animal movements banned



9. Brain drain small, but signnificant, study says



10. 1.6 million Cherokees recalled



11. Study offers another reason to get Pap tests: researchers



12. Reserves, National Guard: Who can keep them straight?