HEADLINE WRITING NCSMA SUMMER WORKSHOP 2014 Colin Donohue, Elon University

Four Functions  1. It gets attention.  2. It summarizes or tells about a news item.  3. It helps organize/explain the news.  4. It indicates the relative importance of news.

Headline Writing Tips  Read the story all the way through before writing the headline.  What’s the main point of the story. Distill it.  Be specific.  Cram information.  Use short words.  Use active voice.  Use strong, active verbs.  Make it engaging.

Techniques to Avoid  Do not lift a phrase verbatim from the lede.  Avoid repetition of thoughts or words.  Don’t belabor the obvious. (Grand jury indicts Jones; Minister professes belief in God)  Avoid writing headlines with a verb, but no subject.  Avoid using forms of “to be” and “to have” (GOOD: Earthquake rocks Southern California; BAD: Southern California has earthquake)  Avoid cliches and puns.

Good Headlines  OUTRAGE: Thousands dead, a nation staggered as terrorists strike New York, Washington

Good Headlines  Gates puts money where his mouse is

Good Headlines  McScam: 8 busted in prize fraud

Good Headlines  When dialing # turns

Good Headlines  Bashful moon to blush as earth passes by

Good Headlines  Bra, humbug: Let’s get loose

Good Headlines  Paradise lofts: Space can be found above ground

Good Headlines  Let's hear it for sushi - raw, raw, raw.

Good Headlines  Fear of frying: Be sure your SPF is right

Unfortunate Headlines  Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case

Unfortunate Headlines  Never Withhold Herpes Infection From Loved One

Unfortunate Headlines  Plane Too Close to Ground, Crash Probe Indicates

Unfortunate Headlines  Miners Refuse to Work After Death

Unfortunate Headlines  Study Finds Sex, Pregnancy Link

Unfortunate Headlines  Stolen Painting Found by Tree

Unfortunate Headlines  Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years in Checkout Line

Unfortunate Headlines  Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Unfortunate Headlines  Red Tape Holding Up Bridges

Unfortunate Headlines  Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

Unfortunate Headlines  Include Your Children When Baking Cookies

Unfortunate Headlines  Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts Say

Unfortunate Headlines  Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

Unfortunate Headlines  Iraqi Head Seeks Arms

Unfortunate Headlines  Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?

Unfortunate Headlines  Prostitutes Appeal to Pope

Unfortunate Headlines  Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

Unfortunate Headlines  Teacher Strikes Idle Kids

Unfortunate Headlines  Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

Unfortunate Headlines  War Dims Hope for Peace

Unfortunate Headlines  If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last a While

Unfortunate Headlines  Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide

Unfortunate Headlines  Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space

Unfortunate Headlines  Kids Make Nutritious Snacks