Download - Headline Basics
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COMA 360 - DMH
HEADLINESThe billboards of print media
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COMA 360 - DMH
HEADLINES HAVE TO GET ATTENTION
Make the reader want to find out more by
reading the article
Create curiosity
Promise answers to a questions or solutions to
a problem
Include a key benefit
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COMA 360 - DMH
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COMA 360 - DMH
RULES FOR HEADLINES
Use present tense • Wildcats defeat Tigers
Use active verbs • Survey reveals students fed up
Don’t use “be” verbs Leave out articles (a, an, the)
• Student Council plans riot Use comma in place of and
• Journalism, English teachers quit Keep all parts of a verb on one line
• Winning students travel to moon
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COMA 360 - DMH
A FEW MORE RULES
Don’t repeat words • BAD: Students vote for Student Council
Use plain, simple words • BAD: Netters take top trophy • GOOD! Tennis team wins state
Avoid names• Smith asks for recount
Be active, not passive • Principal wins bull riding contest • NOT Bull riding contest won by principal
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COMA 360 - DMH
ACTUAL HEADLINES: WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
Iraqi head seeks arms
Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers
Teacher strikes idle kids
Shot off woman’s leg helps Nicklaus to 66
Juvenile court to try shooting defendant
Miners refuse to work after death
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COMA 360 - DMH
ACTUAL HEADLINES: WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
War dims hope for peace
Cold wave linked to temperatures
Diaper market bottoms out
Sex education delayed; teachers request
training
Queen Mary having bottom scraped
Antique stripper to display wares at store
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COMA 360 - DMH
STEPS FOR WRITING HEADLINES
1. Reread your article; identify the underlying theme.
2. Express the theme in an active voice using as few words as possible.
3. Keep your headline in present tense.4. Keep it simple. A headline is a short, direct
sentence without extra adjectives or adverbs.
5. Provide enough information in the headline to give the casual reader an impression of the entire story.
6. Check for accuracy.
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COMA 360 - DMH
WARNINGS
Don’t try to be cute
Make sure you don’t misrepresent the story
Make sure the headline can stand on its own
Always lead with the latest information