HEADLINE WRITING
NCSMA SUMMER WORKSHOP 2014
Colin Donohue, Elon University
Four Functions
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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
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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
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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
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OUTRAGE: Thousands dead, a nation staggered
as terrorists strike New York, Washington
Good Headlines
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Gates puts money where his mouse is
Good Headlines
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McScam: 8 busted in prize fraud
Good Headlines
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When dialing # turns into @!$&!
Good Headlines
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Bashful moon to blush as earth passes by
Good Headlines
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Bra, humbug: Let’s get loose
Good Headlines
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Paradise lofts: Space can be found above
ground
Good Headlines
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Let's hear it for sushi - raw, raw, raw.
Good Headlines
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Fear of frying: Be sure your SPF is right
Unfortunate Headlines
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Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
Unfortunate Headlines
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Never Withhold Herpes Infection From Loved One
Unfortunate Headlines
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Plane Too Close to Ground, Crash Probe Indicates
Unfortunate Headlines
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Miners Refuse to Work After Death
Unfortunate Headlines
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Study Finds Sex, Pregnancy Link
Unfortunate Headlines
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Stolen Painting Found by Tree
Unfortunate Headlines
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Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years in Checkout
Line
Unfortunate Headlines
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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Unfortunate Headlines
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Red Tape Holding Up Bridges
Unfortunate Headlines
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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Unfortunate Headlines
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Include Your Children When Baking Cookies
Unfortunate Headlines
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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts Say
Unfortunate Headlines
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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Unfortunate Headlines
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Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Unfortunate Headlines
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Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
Unfortunate Headlines
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Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Unfortunate Headlines
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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Unfortunate Headlines
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Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
Unfortunate Headlines
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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
Unfortunate Headlines
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War Dims Hope for Peace
Unfortunate Headlines
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If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last a While
Unfortunate Headlines
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Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Unfortunate Headlines
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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space
Unfortunate Headlines
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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks