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Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading...

Date post: 05-Jan-2016
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Writing headlines Not titles
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Page 1: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Writing headlines

Not titles

Page 2: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Basic rules of headline writing

Never write a headline without reading the entire story first.

If the story has a surprise ending, don’t give it away in the headline.

Page 3: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Basic rules of writing headlines

Draw headline information from near the top of the story.

Build the headline around key words, those that must be included.

Build on words in the story, paraphrasing but not parroting.

Page 4: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Headlines show actionand contain a verb

Which of these samples are headlines and contain a verb?

A. The roaring lion B. A lion’s taleD. Cop requires stitches after lion attackE. A dangerous lionF. Lion bites policeman

Page 5: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Are these the headlines you wrote down?

• Cop requires stitches after lion attach. (Requires is a verb)

• Lion bites policeman. (bites is a verb)

Wrong: The roaring lion: Roaring is used as an adjective, not a verb, and this is not a complete thought.

Page 6: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Write a headline for a story surrounding “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”

The Three Bears Discuss the basic facts

Write 2-3 possible headlines in your notebooks.

Page 7: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Possible Headlines Bears’ house vandalized Parents cited for neglect,

Child damages home Charges filed against girl

for breaking and entering Other ?

Page 8: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Change these titles to headlines

Titles usually do not have a verb. Change these titles to headlines.

1. The Three Little Pigs2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs3. The Hunger GamesOn your own, brainstorm ideas for the

Obit Profile!

Page 9: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Possible headlines for stories

Wolf boiled alive by three pigs

Apple causes teen to fall into coma

Tribute volunteers in place of sister

Taylor takes tumble on Tool Time

Page 10: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Basic rules of headline writing

When you write a headline remember:

• Include a subject and a verb• Use present tense of verb• Eliminate articles (the, an, a)• Don’t use “is” or “are”• Use comma to indicate “and” or a semicolon• Do not mislead the reader• Be consistent with the tone of the story

Page 11: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Headline writing style

Headlines do not end with a period

Most papers use “down style” Only the first word and

proper nouns are capitalized

Sample Headlines Emotions run high as

Dole retires from Senate Eight local schools keep

students indoors this summer

Farrakhan praises Cuban schools

Page 12: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Write three possible headlines for this story.

Brad Jones and Kim Smith always said the sky was the limit as far as their love was concerned. Last week they proved it by getting married--in midair. Jones and Smith and a daring pastor, the Rev. Charles Brown, strapped on parachutes Saturday morning and jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet. The trio clasped hands to form a ring while the Rev. Brown conducted the ceremony.

Page 13: Writing headlines Not titles. Basic rules of headline writing Never write a headline without reading the entire story first. If the story has a surprise.

Enjoy some headline humor-Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge  -Deer Kill 17,000    - New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group  -Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

- Kids Make Nutritious Snacks  - Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy   


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