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HEADLINES

HEADLINES. Journalism I M. Riddick. Purpose. Why are headlines important? 1 st thing readers see Summarize a story Can set tone for entire story. Headlines Gone Wrong. The many ways to abuse headlines Inadvertently stupid Urban legends Sad attempts at humor Grammatical errors

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HEADLINES

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  1. HEADLINES Journalism I M. Riddick

  2. Purpose • Why are headlines important? • 1st thing readers see • Summarize a story • Can set tone for entire story

  3. Headlines Gone Wrong • The many ways to abuse headlines • Inadvertently stupid • Urban legends • Sad attempts at humor • Grammatical errors • Duh—state the obvious • Misleading

  4. Headlines Gone Wrong: Examples • IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS: • Body Search Reveals $4,000 in crack • Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy • Disciples of Christ Name Interim Leader • Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors • Jerk Injures Neck, Wins Award • 4-H Girls Win Prizes for Fat Calves • Lack of Brains Hinders Research • Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

  5. Headlines Gone Wrong: Examples • IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS: • Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over • Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in 10 Years • Two Convicts Evade Noose, Jury Hung • Workers Finish Boring Sewer Tunnel • Alcohol Ads Promote Drinking • Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says • Queen Mary Having Bottom Scraped

  6. And then there is this. . .

  7. Basic Tips Now you may be ready to learn how to avoid the previous mistakes: • Use present tense. • Not this: Wildcats defeated Wolverines • This: Wildcats defeat Wolverines • Leave out a, an and the. • Not this: The student council plans a retreat • This: Student council plans retreat

  8. Basic Tips • Use a comma in place of and. • Not this: Band and choir win sweepstakes award • This: Band, choir win sweepstakes award • Use a semicolon to separate complete thoughts. • Not this: Legislature in session. Future of education in doubt • This: Legislature in session; future of education in doubt

  9. Basic Tips • Keep all parts of a verb on one line. • Not this: Winning journalists to travel into rainforest • This: Winning journalists to travel into rainforest • Use active verbs; omit forms of to be. • Not this: Smoking is common, survey shows • This: Survey reveals smoking common

  10. Basic Tips • Keep adjectives and the nouns they modify on the same line. • Not this: Workers want more say in environmental issues • This: Workers want more say in environmental issues • Use alliteration sparingly. • Not this: Budget battle baffles board • Maybe: Teachers ‘Talk Turkey’

  11. Other Tips to Consider • Summarize the lead for news stories; main idea for feature stories • Avoid opinion • Give final outcome • Tell what was done, not left undone • Don’t begin with a verb • Avoid repetition of words • Avoid unfamiliar abbreviations • Use attribution if quoting • use single quote marks (‘ ’)

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