Headlines

Hey guys, editing my blog here. Didn't realize we had to put both a good AND bad headline. No worries, though. I found what I think is an outstanding headline on ESPN.com's home page. It simply reads, "THE SUMMIT." Given the circumstances, I think it's great. It is the story about the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team winning the national championship last night. This is undoubtedly the "summit" of the sport, but it is extra fitting because Tennessee's legendary coach is named Pat Summit. I think this one is simple, clever, to the point, and thus very good.

I found this headline on the web site for my hometown newspaper, the Vineland Daily Journal. The headline reads "Spikes Instantaneously Makes Eagles Better." (here's the link... http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/SPORTS/703280335/1006)

I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just don't like the word "instantaneously" at all. It's just my opinion that there are plenty of words that are more concise and convey the intended message just as effectively. It almost seems to me the headline writer was pressed for time and needed to use a bigger word to fill the correct amount of space. The word "instantaneously" almost seems like it really has too many syllables to be in a headline. I could just be completely overreacting, but I think the headline would have sounded better using something along the lines of "Spikes instantly makes Eagles' D better," or something like that.

Headlines

I found this headline on the web site for my hometown newspaper, the Vineland Daily Journal. The headline reads "Spikes Instantaneously Makes Eagles Better." (here's the link... http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/SPORTS/703280335/1006)

I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just don't like the word "instantaneously" at all. It's just my opinion that there are plenty of words that are more concise and convey the intended message just as effectively. It almost seems to me the headline writer was pressed for time and needed to use a bigger word to fill the correct amount of space. The word "instantaneously" almost seems like it really has too many syllables to be in a headline. I could just be completely overreacting, but I think the headline would have sounded better using something along the lines of "Spikes instantly makes Eagles' D better," or something like that.

Headlines

Good and Bad Headlines--Zak Garner 3/28/2007

I found both of these headlines on the New York Times Web site.

Good: "From Ashes of Yukos, New Russian Oil Giant Emerges"
I like this headline, published on 3/27, because it uses both a somewhat poetic phrase, "ashes of Yukos," and the very appropriate noun "giant" (rather than "company"). Also, the headline sounds story-like - like it could be a chapter in a book - and this is reflected in the article. While it is a newsworthy piece, the story colors in the background in feature article fashion. Overall, it is a direct, clever and appropriate headline that doesn't use too many words.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/world/europe/27russia.html?em&ex=1175227200&en=203209985911be3c&ei=5087%0A

Bad: "Gay Media Outlets Seek Place at the Table at Awards for the Representation of Gays"
I don't like this headline, published on 3/26, because it is wordy and confusing. It is the type of headline you need to read twice before deciding if you want to read the article, which can cause some readers to flip immediately to another page. While the headline uses the common seat-at-table metaphor, the phrase "Place at the Table at Awards" is way too clunky to make this metaphor flow appropriately. An alternative headline could be: "Gay Media Outlets Seek Place at GLAAD Awards Tables."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/business/media/26glaad.html

Good/Bad Headlines

Kathy Park

3/28/07

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/27/AR2007032700463.html
Senate Signals Support For U.S. Timeline in Iraq

This is a headline found on March 28, in the online version of The Washington Post. I would consider this a good headline because it captures the main point of the article in just a few words, but it doesn’t necessarily give the lead away. It is written in the present tense and in active voice. This is an appropriate headline for such a serious issue.

http://www.abilene-rc.com/

Bolen bound over for arraignment in Abilene Machine arson, burglary

This is a headline found on March 28, in the online edition of The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle. The paper is published in Abilene, Kansas. I would label this a not-so-adept headline because it is very confusing. It’s a bit wordy, and there is too much information that’s crammed into one headline. The headline should encourage people to continue reading the article, but there is nothing appealing about this headline.