Read all about it Writing headlines

Painting pictures with words Headlines must GRAB the reader’s attention Summarize Intrigue

Main Headline The main headline, the DOMINANT photo on the page/spread AND the lead story work together to focus the reader’s attention It’s all a part of packaging

Opinions Should not be stated in a headline with the exception of editorials

Readers scan the news To see what’s of interest They may read your story—if the headline attracts them

Headlines should not Give information that is given in the story A simple declarative with a subject, verb, and direct object Jags take national championship

Use of tense Present tense to reflect past action Use active voice rather than being verbs Coach resigns after assault Not Coach decided to resign

Punctuation Abbreviations should be avoided Do not use the name of the school or its initials in a headline Avoid a, an, and the

Writing multi-line headlines Keep verb phrase on the same line Keep adjectives and words they modify on the same line Keep adverbs and words they modify on the same line Keep prepositional phrases on the same line Keep words that go together on the same line Don’t end a line of headline with a hyphen

Use down-style This means capitalizing only the first word in the headline and all proper nouns, etc. All cap headlines are hard to read

More punctuation Use single quotation marks rather than double Use a comma in place of ‘and’ Colons should be used to replace the word ‘said’.

Headline Design We read left to right So, your headline should be in larger type at the top of the paper and be on the left hand side if possible.

Samples – Help me out… Single line: Sixth grade center to open Double line: Sixth grade center to open Solving overcrowding conditions

Hammer Rise and shine D-Hall begins at 4 a.m.

Underline It’s always something Students find innovative excuses for tardies

Overline Students find way to open Fortress It’s breaking and entering

Wicket End of October brings a change of seasons and faces and kids chanting ‘Trick or Treat, give me something good to eat’

Tripod Open the pearly gates: And let New Orleans residents Return to a safe haven

Open up the Austin American- Statesman See if you can locate these headline styles Wicket Tripod Overline Underline Hammer Single line Double line