Headline Writing

1. Headline Writing

2. The Rules • First, a headline must fit. • It must fit the space available and the story. • While “Air head fired” fits, there is some question over its validity.

3. The Rules • Second, the headline must summarize the story. • It needs to also pull readers into the story. Appealing to the imagination helps. • Caution: If you use a pun, don’t put the pun in quote marks to draw attention.

4. The Rules • No. 3: A headline should have a subject, verb and object. • “Man bites dog” is the most famous example. • “Headless body found in topless bar” is another

5. The Rules • No. 4: If a name appears in a headline, it needs to be well known. • “Clinton” in a headline is appropriate. • Prominent names change over time. “Quayle”would have been fine in a headline in 1989, but not today.

6. The Rules • No. 5: Pack information into a headline. • Don’t be shy.

7. The Rules • No. 6: Be specific. • “City council considers many matters” meets the basic rules, but is not a very good headline. • “City council backs rezoning mall” is a much better headline.

8. The Rules • No. 7: Use good English.

9. The Rules • No. 8: Observe the same rules of libel as a reporter. • Don’t convict someone in a headline. • Avoid words like killer and murderer, unless dealing with an unknown. “Search continues for baby’s killer” is OK.

10. The Rules • No. 9: Use only AP abbreviations. • NASA, FBI, NFL, etc. • Local style rules may allow additional choices. SGA may be fine in one context, but not another.

11. The Rules • No. 10: Break all the rules as needed if that is what it takes to craft the appropriate headline. • It’s similar to breaking the rules in reporting. • You don’t normally lead a story with a quote, but you would for the right quote.