Names and titles give identities – it reflects people, objects, animals, and organizations. They provide an understanding to others regarding their entirety and purpose, and the same is applied in journalism, specifically in the newspaper, these names and titles are found within the front pages and inner contents.
In newspaper articles, these names and titles are referred to as “headlines” or heading - they frame the information that is to follow. A headline is what introduces the news story. It is located at the top of the article, thus, it is the first aspect that garners the interest and attention of the readers, making it is the most fundamental factor in writing.
It consists of a group of words that vary according to the writer of the article’s purpose. Sometimes it is a one-liner, other times it may be more, and it also may be set in larger and bolder letters. Copy editors, writers, page layout designers, and other editors are among those who are responsible for deciding and constructing headlines.
It has many functions as it does not only heed to a few objectives and goals but more. The main functions are to (1) Summarize the Story – to convey information in a concise and eloquent manner. (2) Generate Interest – to captivate the interest of the audience, therefore, gaining readers. (3) Lend Character and Stability to the Newspaper – the headline must be aligned with the construction, purpose, and message of the article as one headline alone can reflect the overall credibility of the newspaper. Headline functions may also be identified through the “HEADS” acronym:
H - Heralds the day’s news. It must focus on important matters that the public needs to be aware of.
E - Entices the reader with essential or interesting facts.
A - Advertises the fundamental story by size or placement on the page.
D - Dresses up a page with typography.
S - Summarizes the story with an interesting or eyecatching lead.
Choosing a headline is as complex as deciding what topic is the most newsworthy and is as difficult as writing the article itself. In writing a headline, there are guidelines in order to exterminate commitments of mistakes and in order to help the writer in choosing an interesting and captivating heading. The following are some of the guidelines:
It must be accurate, clear, and specific.
Should consist of 5-10 words at the most.
The writer must use the active voice.
The present tense and active verbs should be used but starting with verbs should be avoided.
The writer should use an infinitive form of the verb for future actions.
Avoid using “a, an, the”
Avoid using conjunctions such as “and” - substitute with a comma (,) instead.
The headline should be in complete sentences or must imply complete sentences.
The writer must avoid repetition - the headline should not repeat the lead as it only serves to summarize and introduce the topic.
Avoid using unidentified pronouns.
The first word in the head should be capitalized as should all proper nouns.
The writer must avoid editorialization, exaggerations, and generalizations or usage of long words. The headline must be simple and direct.
In the headline punctuation, the writer must use periods for abbreviations only and single quotes for double quotes in a story.
Do not write the letters of the number’s word rather, use numbers.
Use punctuations properly.
In order to write a headline, the writer must heed the guidelines, however, a good headline is one that follows headline vocabulary. The headline vocabulary consists of keywords that may or may not be commonly used and are used since they are less spacious and more concise. Headlines are typically written in a style that consists of simplified grammar. The following are some of the headline vocabulary writers usually follow/use: (Note that these are all available on the internet and that these are what journalists use in their articles.)
Air – to make know/ broadcast
Accord – agreement
Assail – to criticize strongly
Axe – to remove from a job
Back – to support
Ban – to not allow to do something
Bar – to officially say that something must not be done
Bid – an attempt
Blast – an explosion
Blaze – a big fire
Cite – to mention; to give as a reason
Claim – to declare to be true
Claim – to kill
Curb – to limit; to control
Dim – to become weaker
Dub – to give a name or description to
Due – expected
Ease – to reduce or lessen
Eye – to watch with interest; to have as a goal
Fault – to criticize; say someone/ something’s wrong
Flay – to accuse; to criticize strongly
Foe – enemy; rival; competitor
Foil – to prevent from succeeding
Grip – control; to take control of
Gut – to destroy by fire
Haul – a large amount of something illegal that has been taken
Haul – an amount of something that has been won or achieved
Heist – theft
Helm – the head of an organization, project, etc.
Hike – an increase
Ink – to sign
Irk – to the case to be angry or annoyed
Key – very important
Lash – to hit with a strong force
Lash out – to criticize strongly
Laud – to praise; to say good things about
Launch – to start or begin
Link – to connect; connection
Loom – expected in the near feature
Mull –to think carefully about; to consider
Nab – to capture; to arrest
Net – to capture; to take possession of
Nod –approval
Opt – to choose; to decide on
Oust – to force out of a position, competition, etc.
Pact – an agreement
Plea – a request; an answer to a criminal charge
Pledge – a serious promise
Poised – ready; about to achieve
Poll – an election
Post – a job or position
Probe – to investigate; an investigation
Prompt – to cause
Rage – to burn out of control
Rage – to continue with a lot of force, violence, or anger
Reel – to feel very shocked or upset about something
Rock – to shock; to surprise
Rout – to defeat completely or by a large amount
Row – quarrel; a serious disagreement
Rule – to make a decision (especially in a court or a regulating agency)
Rule out – to not consider as a possibility
Sack – to dismiss from a job
Scam – a clever and dishonest plan for making money
Set – ready; decided on
Shun – to avoid someone or something
Slam –to criticize someone very strongly
Slay – to kill someone or something in a war or fight
Snag – a problem or difficulty
Snub –to pay no attention to; to refuse to accept something
Soar –to rise rapidly
Split – to divide or become divided
Spook – to frighten or become frightened
Stalemate – a disagreement that can’t be solved
Stall – to delay or make things wait; to stop making progress
Stance – the opinions that someone has about something; position
Stem – to stop something from spreading or increasing
Sway – to influence or persuade
Swindle – a situation in which someone cheats someone in order to get money or property
Thwart – to prevent from being successful
Tie – relationship; strong connection
Tip – to say in advance that someone or something will be successful
Trigger – to make something happen; to cause someone to say or do something
Trim – to cut or reduce the amount or number of something
Urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take
Vie – to compete with other people for something that is difficult to get
Void – to make something no longer legal or effective
Vow – a serious promise; to make a serious promise
Weigh – to consider all the aspects of the situation
Woo – to try to persuade people to support you
Yield – to produce something useful; to make a profit
