Transcript headlines2

Headlines
Headlines serve four functions on a
newspaper page:
They summarize story contents.
They prioritize stories, since bigger stories
get bigger headlines.
They entice readers into the text.
They anchor story designs to help organize
the page.
Rules
1. Keep them conversational. Write the way
people speak. Avoid pretentious jargon, odd
verbs, or omitted words. Headlines should
not read like a telegram.
2. Write in the present tense active voice. Like
this: President vetoes tax bill. Not: President
vetoed tax bill or Tax bill vetoed by president.
Rules
3. Except for abbreviations, headlines contain
no periods.
4. Only abbreviations that are readily
understood appear in headlines.
5. As a rule, headlines are set “flush left.” that
is, the first letter in each line is set at the left
margin of the column. (Headlines in a box
may be centered.)
Example:
Cougars win;
survive rally
by Bengals
Rules
6. Each line of a headline must stand
alone. (Avoid bad splits.)
A line may not end with a modifier (an
adjective or an adverb).
Faulty!:
Former MHS
teacher here
Better!: Veteran teacher
joins CHS staff
[Rule 6 continued]
A verb form may not be divided between lines.
Faulty!: Principal to
climb peak
Better!:
Principal eyes
Matterhorn
A word at the end of a line may not be hyphenated.
Faulty!: Band concert Friday
Better!:
Band to give
concert Friday
[Rule 6 continued]
A line should not end with a conjunction.
Faulty: Terriers and
Colts tangle
for top spot
Better: Terriers, Colts
tangle for lead
Rules
7.
A comma may replace the conjunction and.
Johnson, Burdick star
8.
A semicolon may be used to indicate separate ideas.
Honor Society Awards trophy; praises Romney
9.
A colon may be used to replace the verb says.
Governor Mosely: ‘No new taxes!’
10. A headline containing a quotation uses single quotation marks.
Coach Myer: ‘Tournament postponed because of flu’
Rules
11. Vague, confusing expressions make poor headlines.
Faulty: Council sets
deadlines- -so
avoid the rush
Better:
Five Juniors
beat deadline
for class race
12. Personal feelings have no place in a headline. However,
with a review of a play, a book, or a musical event, the
headline writer may summarize personal feelings, provided
that the assessment is fair.
Juniors’ ‘Our Town’ inspirational
Rules
13. Avoid butting headlines.
Police finally catch
bank robber
Sterling scholars
named today
Rules
 15. The last line of a headline must go at least
half way across the space.
Senior football player
makes the big league
NOT: Senior football player makes the big
league
Rule just for RHS
14. Most, but not all, newspapers today
use standard capitalization. Capitalize
only the first word and proper nouns.
Cheerleader falls from
top of pyramid
NOT: Cheerleader Falls
From Top of Pyramid
BAD HEADLINES:
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Job seekers may find work
Teens murder victims
Gas hike not a likely suspect for summer travel
Hurricane Danny brings wind, rain
Monday earliest judge will rule on case
Group helps suicide victims
Forklift driver donates thousands
 Covey apologizes for appearance at anti-gay fund raiser
 Police begin campaign to run down jay walker
BAD HEADLINES:
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Miners refuse to work after death
Stolen painting found by tree
If strike isn’t settled quickly it may last awhile
Typhoon rips through cemetery, 100s dead
Obesity study looks for larger test group
GOOD HEADLINES:
 Oh, deer! Animal herds are going out on the town
 Olympic Village? Try Media Town
 Wanted man gives Springville 2 hours of unwanted
excitement
 It’s a small world – and a big, big merger
 Money can’t buy Beatles love, but it puts them on
Forbes list
 Cast’s great, but something’s rotten in ‘I Hate
Hamlet’
GOOD HEADLINES:
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Are U.S. kids the young and the ruthless?
Man from Mars actually came out of nowhere
Novell hits ‘escape’ on WordPerfect
The puck drops here – Utah 4, Peoria 2
Fire in the sky signals danger on the ground
Pilot was no stranger to the danger in the sky
Science is on the eve of finding Adam
Saturn owners are in orbit over their cars
GOOD HEADLINES:
Mom-and-pop firms are crying ‘uncle’!
Small shops feel shackled by chains
Russians riveted on Levi Strauss
There’s still a sizable opening for a new hospitalgown design
 Cats and dogs? In Florida it’s raining gators
 A bad habit? Nun caught shoplifting
 Want to scrap superstition? This could be your
lucky day
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GOOD HEADLINES:
 Rattler hiss-teria sends California family packing
 Senate highway bill may put states in the driver’s
seat
 Ordinance on pool appears to be sunk
 Bountiful works out kinks in new massage
ordinance
 Slip of the lip puts zip into otherwise somber U.N.
meeting
 Newt’s unusually brief when asked about boxers
 GOP may reign – but for Waldholtz, it showers
Use five to ten words to write a “bright” headline
for the following story.
Brad Jones and Kim Smith always said the sky was the limit
as far as their love was concerned. Last week they proved it by
getting married – in midair.
Brad and Kim and a daring young pastor, the Rev. Charles
Brown, strapped on parachutes Saturday morning and jumped out
of a plane at 10,000 feet. The trio clasped hands to form a ring
while Rev. Brown conducted the ceremony.
After the bride and groom each said, “I do,” the skydivers
opened their parachutes and floated safely to the ground. Friends
and family were waiting below to help the couple celebrate – and
to witness the exchanging of wedding rings.
“Of course we didn’t try to exchange rings while we were
falling through the sky!” Kim said. “We may be crazy, but we’re not
stupid.”
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Skydiving couple takes the plunge
Bride and groom walk on air
Pair jumps out of plane and into marriage
Couple takes flying leap into wedlock
Sweethearts fall for each other – out of plane
Skydivers’ wedding falls into place
Bride and groom take 10,000-foot leap of
faith
 Bridal couple jumps for joy
 Couple’s marriage is made in the heavens