The not-so-secret language of the media
 At the end of this lesson we will
understand the uses and
effectiveness of wordplay in
headline writing, and be more
familiar with journalese
shorthand and the way it is used
in headlines.

What do you make of the following…



Newspapers and magazines use a number of
different methods to make their headlines
eye-catching, dramatic and memorable.
A common method employed in headlines is
to use a play on words based on the subject
of the story.
To save space and attract the readers
attention, headline writers have developed
their own vocabulary of short, dramatic
words.
The following are examples of different
techniques used to catch the readers
attention:
Christian prays for salvation

Tottenham put a stop to Gross incompetence
The story is that the Spurs are losing matches under
their manager, Christian Gross, who finally leaves the club
Angel’s wining his way to WBA
The story is that Oxford United winger
Mark Angel is to join West Bromwich Albion
Thieves show shear-er cheek
The story is that a cardboard cut-out of Alan Shearer is
stolen from outside a shop
These are all examples of puns on names

The following are examples of different
techniques used to catch the readers
attention:
Cat flap in drowning street
Humphrey, a cat, goes missing.
Biggest of the Mall
Manchester's Trafford Park shopping complex opens
We’ve a weever invasion
on coast!
.
An increase of poisonous weever fish is happening on our beaches
These are all examples of puns and wordplay

The following are examples of different
techniques used to catch the readers
Till Deaf do us part
attention:
A man deliberately shouts in his wife’s ear
and damages her hearing.
Love at first flight
Describing an RAF romance
These are all examples of plays on words

Headlines can take up a great deal of space, so journalists have
developed their own shorthand vocabulary to produce dramatic,
punchy headlines. Some of this vocabulary is rarely used anywhere else
and can involve unusual use of nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
NOUNS
Police face racism probe
Rover to axe development plan
Murdoch in new bid
By-pass fury
Tot stops in traffic
Police in drugs swoop
New beef scare
VERBS
Tories split on Europe
Brand quits BBC
UK hit by recession
Brown slams motorists
Temperatures set to rise

Using spare magazines/newspapers, and in groups, find
some examples of word-play in headlines. Copy the
headlines down into your notes, so you can share with the
class.


Its one thing to spot wordplay in action, and another to be able to describe how it’s being
used, and why.
Each of the following headlines are different takes on the same story. Write a brief
explanation of the wordplay being used. Next, select two or three favourites and
explain how and why they are effective
Snow joke for
London
London survives in winter blunerdland
Schools close, students think it’s
white stuff
Mother nature gives a royal walloping;
record snowfall set
Public transit frozen in place