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Getting Headlines To Fit. Better off starting a headline without too much concern for fit. Step 1: Read story carefully, looking for strong angles and colorful verbs. Step 2: Type in nonsense words to get an idea of how many words you can have.
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Getting Headlines To Fit Better off starting a headline without too much concern for fit
Step 1: Read story carefully, looking for strong angles and colorful verbs
Step 2: Type in nonsense words to get an idea of how many words you can have
Step 3: Concentrate on writing the best possible headline, coming as close to using the number of words you estimated in Step 2. DO NOT go on to Step 4 until you have a first-rate headline
Step 4: Use your computer or count your headline to see how close you are
Step 5: Try substituting shorter or longer words – look for new angles in story if too short
Step 6: Bump the size of your head a little, little smaller or a bigger than ordered *** Don’t think you can solve all your problems by changing the size of text
Step 7: You can have your computer squeeze or expand heads a little (kerning), process makes for an additional letter or two
Step 8: If head still doesn’t fit, it’s time to look for a new angle
Counting HeadlinesSee Appendix 2 • flirt system: f,l,i,r,t are counted as ½ unit. Most other lowercase letters count 1 unit, except m,w, which count 1½. Most capital letters count 1½, except, M,W, which count 2. Small punctuations marks count ½ each, fat ones count 1½. Space counts one.
Standard Method • Lowercase letters 1 unit; Uppercase 1 ½ • Exceptions: • f, l, i, t and j = ½ • Lowercase m and w = 1 ½ • Uppercase M and W = 2 • Spaces = ½ • Punctuation = ½ • Uppercase I or L and numeral = ½
Unless a special effect is desired, each line should fill at least two-thirds of the maximum type-line width, and some editors insist that each line come within two units of the maximum
Headline order • (2-30-2K) • This equals two columns, 30-point type, 2 lines with a kicker