Headline Writing

1. Headline Writing

2. Man Bites Dog Headline Game • Every headline must follow this order: • Subject (Man) – Verb (Bites) – Object (Dog) • Each player receives 5 cards and each player may discard up to 3 cards, beginning with the player on the left • The dealer replaces discarded cards • Each player, beginning with the dealer, will lay down their best headline from the cards in their hand • You will keep playing until time is called. Reshuffle as needed. • Keep score for each headline. If you can’t make a headline, it is 0 points. Record your scores on the white board.

3. What do the following headlines have in common? Grandmother of 8 makes hole in one Deaf mute gets new hearing in killing Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers House passes gas tax onto Senate Stiff opposition expected to casket less funeral plan Two convicts evade noose, jury hung

4. What do the following headlines have in common? William Kelly was fed secretary Quarter of a million Chinese live on water Farmer bill dies in house Iraqi head seeks arms Eye drops off shelf Squad helps dog bite victim

5. What do the following headlines have in common? Dealers will hear car talk at noon Enraged cow injures farmer with ax Lawmen from Mexico barbecue guests Miners refuse to work after death Two Soviet ships collide - one dies TV Host Tries to Play with Beckham’s Balls

6. What do they all have in common? • Double Meanings

7. If strike isn’t settled quickly it may last a while War dims hope for peace Smokers are productive, but death cuts efficiency Cold wave linked to temperatures Child’s death ruins couple’s holiday

8. Blind woman gets new kidney from dad she hasn’tseen in years Man is fatally slain Something went wrong in jet crash, experts say Death causes loneliness, feeling of isolation

9. What do they all have in common? • Stating the obvious

10. In headlines, avoid: • Double Meanings • Stating the Obvious

11. Three Goals • Sell the story. • Tell the facts. • Be accurate.

12. Content • Headlines have to summarize the main point of the story or emphasize what is significant. • Find the news peg (the most recent or most important information) • Can have a straight forward news headline or a clever headline

13. Headlines • Every headline makes a complete thought or sentence. • Non-essential words are eliminated • Every headline needs a SUBJECT and a VERB

14. Two Types of Headlines Main Headlines • Main headline and secondary headline • A secondary headline only Secondary Headlines • Grab the reader’s attention • Do not have to have a verb • Should be something clever or catchy, such as a play on words • For feature stories • Explain the main headline • Must always have a subject and verb • Must always make a complete thought • For news stories

15. Sample Headline Risky Business Sophomore to compete in extreme biking contest Main Headline Secondary Headline

16. Main & Secondary • Main headline should never be dependent on the secondary headline If elected in November, Obama - Main Says he will get U.S. out of Iraq – Secondary • Don’t repeat key ideas or phrases in main & secondary Pocket lasers banned Authorities ban laser pointers

17. UPSTYLE vs. downstyle • Use either one, but be consistent • Upstyle: Capitalize The First Letter Of Every Word • Sophomore To Compete In Extreme Biking Contest • Downstyle: capitalize the first letter of the first word and all proper nouns • Sophomore to compete in extreme biking contest

18. Warm-Up • Collect graded papers • Check Skyward for missing or redo assignments – Due by Thursday!

19. General Rules • Verbs should be in present or future tense only • Don’t repeat words • Be accurate • Eliminate a, an, the and all unnecessary words

20. What can be eliminated? • An old hound dog • On Easter Sunday • Had two twins • In close proximity • The victim was completely decapitated • The state of Texas • Made of cement • The poor beggar

21. Verbs • Noun – Verb - Object • Present or future tense only. • No contractions. • Avoid passive voice & to be verbs. Internet fraud is cause of worry for administrators Internet fraud concerns administrators • Implied passive verbs are okay. Federal grant (is) renewed

22. Punctuation • Use a comma for “and” • Use single quotation marks • Never use an ! • Never, ever end with a period • Use a semi-colon to separate two sentences in a headline (Better to avoid) Bardwell named Educator of the year; Experts call it sign of plunging standards

23. Names & Abbreviations • Don’t use names in headlines - Use only if they are easily recognizable. • Use titles instead. (freshman, senior) • Can use names as a play on words in main headlines • Avoid initials or abbreviations, unless the initials are instantly recognizable. • AHS, NHS, FFA

24. Be Specific • Not good: • School board discusses items at heated Tuesday meeting • Good: • 2 board members walk out over budget argument

25. More Rules • Be objective. • Tone should fit the story • Watch for misinterpretation • Be sure to eat right before surgery • Crowds rushing to see Pope trample 6 to death • Use alliteration sparingly.

26. Avoid . . . • Clichés • Simplified spellings (vball, nite, etc.) • Big, fancy words – keep it simple.

27. 6 Steps to Writing a Headline 1.) Identify the 5ws and h. 2.) Write a sentence that summarizes the most important fact of the story. 3.) Put sentence in the present tense. 4.) Cross out any nonessential words. 5.) Abbreviate any words you can. 6.) Check to see if there is a better verb you can use.