Headline Writing Lecture

CAMPUS JOURNALISM
Good day BSE English 2A studes,

I hope and pray that you are all safe and secure as you receive this lecture. For today’s lesson, we will have the
continuation on our lecture/discussion on copyreading specifically on Headline Writing.
Our lesson objectives:
 Define headline writing;

 Distinguish the effective ways on writing headline;
 Identify the types of headline writing; and
 Write an effective headline of a text.
HEADLINE- is the window of the newspapers as it serves as the quick source of info for busy readers. This is where
readers (JUDGE) start.
An assemblage of words written in bigger, bolder letters than the usual page text at the beginning of the news, also
known as the head, but not a title.
The word “headline” is understood by many people to mean the biggest story of the day. In journalism, however,
“headline” is the title of a news story big or small.
There’s no doubt headlines are one of the most important things to get right, unfortunately they can also be the most
problematic too.
A good headline grabs the reader’s attention, and compels them to read on.
The HEADLINE
- A well-written story will go unread if the headline does not grab the reader. Headlines also serve as a
graphic element on the page.
- Good headlines capture the readers’ attention and make them want to explore the story.
- Bad headlines confuse readers, turn them off, invite criticism, invoke laughter (for the wrong reasons),
or are just moronic.
2 Major Types of Headline

♦ news headline – deals with hard facts and summary
Ex.: Business leaders tackle global crisis
♦ feature headline – deals with novelty, human interest element
Ex.: The sea is on red alert! (pertains to red tide menace)
As title of the news, the headline serves the following purposes:

1. It gives the summary of the news.
2. It allows the hurried reader to get a quick glimpse of the news. Later in the day, when he has the time, he
will read the story in its entirety.
3. It indicates relative importance of the story by the amount of display and thus helps the reader evaluate
the significance of the news.
4. It contributes to the physical attractiveness of the paper.
HEADLINE FUNCTIONS
• to attract readers (come-on element of headline)
• to tell the story (in a gist/summary)
• to add variety of type (break the monotony of sea of type)
• to identify personality of newspaper (use of font/style of letters)
• to index/grade the news (big type for important news than less important)
Qualities of a Good Headline

1. The headline presents the news in capsule, thus it is telegraphic.
2. It must contain the most important, the most intriguing, and the most unusual fact of the story. It is not the
place for details.
3. It must be constructed as to catch the reader’s attention and make him read the story.
4. Size and length of the headline must be proportional to the length of the story and its importance.
5. The headline is based on the lead.
6. The headline makes use of special vocabulary which is not suitable for ordinary communication
situations. For example: the word “stude” is headline equivalent for “student” as in “Four studes win in
quiz bee” However, it is not acceptable to say there are 2,000 studes in our school.
Rules in writing headlines...

1. The headline must have a verb and it must be in the present tense.
Wrong: Cuadra topped editorial tilt
Correct: Cuadra tops editorial tilt
2. Do not use period.
3. Minimize punctuation marks. Use single quotation marks. Use a comma in place of “and” and a
semicolon to separate sentences.
Wrong: Rolling stores to sell rice and groceries
Correct: Rolling stores to sell rice, groceries
4. Don’t use the articles- a, an, the

Wrong: A fire hits the squatters’
Correct: Fire hits squatters’ area
5. Don’t use names unless the person is well-known.

Wrong: Simon electrocuted
Correct: Electrician electrocuted
6.Use the infinitive for future events.

Wrong: City Hall will push anti-squatting drive
Correct: City Hall to push anti-squatting drive
7. Use specific terms instead of generalities

Wrong: School official gets scholarship
Correct: Principal gets US scholarship
Qualities of a good headline

1. always in active voice / use action word
2. use the present tense, historical present and future tense
3. Prioritize use of subject / direct object
4. Must not hang prepositions
5. Never repeat words
6. Use familiar abbreviations only
7. No typographical errors/ grammar errors
8. Reflect the tone of the story
9. Avoid labels / titles
10. Do not editorialize
11. Do not use negative construction except when necessary
Technical Requirements
• fit into space
• must know the font size of letters
• must know the head unit count
• must know the number of decks (layers of headline)
• must know the number of columns (one, two, three, four etc.)
The Active Voice in Headlines...
♦ the verb is said to be in the active voice when the doer of the action is in the subject position.
♦ The ACTIVE Voice is preferred over the PASSIVE voice because it is more vigorous; however, the
PASSIVE voice must be used when the action is more significant than the doer of the action.
Ways to Improve Headline
1. Use active voice = Man bites dog
2. Use present tense = Robber flees not fleed
3. Avoid abbreviation = Actor wins trip to LV
4. Use short words = Panel or Group instead of committee
5. Be specific= Editor wins award
6. Make positive statement= Pacquiao to win a fight
7. Don’t repeat key word = Bank’s Oust Bank’s Chair
8. Avoid confusing line division= Group Votes
To Renew Plea
9. Be accurate = state fact with attribution
10. Avoid punctuation = as much as possible
11. Avoid to be words = delete is-are helping verb
12. Be impartial
Headline Styles
All caps
PUBLIC WARNED ON HAZARDS OF FIDGET SPINNERS
Cap and lower case (Clc)

Public Warned On Hazards Of Fidget Spinners
Downstyle (ds)
Public warned on hazards of fidget spinners
Unit Counting for Headlines
LETTERS
small letters CAPITAL
½ unit – j I l t f 1 unit – J I L T F
1 ½ units – m w 2 units – M W
1 unit – remaining letters 1 ½ units – REMAINING
½ unit – . , : ; ! ‘
1 unit – 0-9, ? $ P % - (space)
1 ½ units – em dash (—)
Verbal deadwood...
(wordy & weak) (better/briefer)
• for the reason that ------------ because
• a large proportion ------------ many
• at the present time ------------ now
• succumbed to injuries-------- died
• at an early date----------------- soon
• is of the opinion that ---------- believes
• in the neighborhood of ------- near
• in the event of -------------------in case
• in spite of the fact ---------------although
• draw attention of --------------remind
• tendered his resignation ------resigned
• affixed his signature ---------- signed
• united in holy matrimony-----married
• held a conference ---------------met
• told his listeners ----------------said
Headline Vocab
• congressman ………...solon
• decrease ……………. dip
• examination …………quiz
• announce …………….bare
• highlight ……………..cap
• speak …………………urge
• conference …………...confab
• investigation …………probe
• investigator …………..prober
• disapprove ……………buck, scrap
• dismiss …….quash
• dispute …….... row
• charge ………rap
• strengthen…... beef up
• agreement …. Accord
• practice ………hone up
• sign ………….ink
• praise …………laud
• question …….grill
• year ………….milestone
• urge …………prod
• delay …………snag
• mad killer …..amok
• identify ……….finger
• capture ……...net
• start …………..trigger
• disregard ……rule out
• end …………...wind up
• lessen-----------allay
• approval --------nod
• arrest -----------nab
• student ---------student
• writer -----------scribe
• government ----govt
• councilor --------dad
TASK: With the articles on S&T and Copy reading activities, rewrite the headline and compute the unit counting.
Comment your name once you have read this lecture/message.

KEEP SAFE EVERYONE! STAY AT HOME! GOD BLESS US ALL!

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CAMPUS JOURNALISM

Good day BSE English 2A studes,

 Define headline writing;

2 Major Types of Headline

As title of the news, the headline serves the following purposes:

Qualities of a Good Headline

Rules in writing headlines...

2. Do not use period.

4. Don’t use the articles- a, an, the

5. Don’t use names unless the person is well-known.

6.Use the infinitive for future events.

7. Use specific terms instead of generalities

Qualities of a good headline

The Active Voice in Headlines...

Cap and lower case (Clc)

Unit Counting for Headlines

Comment your name once you have read this lecture/message.

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