it’s all in your head(line) headline writing contest: • six stories, six headlines • 45...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
It’s all in your Head(line)
By Bobby Hawthorne, former UIL Academic Director Revised by Jeanne Acton, UIL Journalism Director
![Page 2: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
The Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity
![Page 3: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Sell the story. A good head involves readers much like a clever ad. Tell the facts. Precise and specific heads inform readers instantly of what they may or may not want to read. Be accurate. All facts, names, numbers, whatever must be correct.
![Page 4: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Be objective. Don’t editorialize. Simple but precise. No fancy words. No weird constructions. Find the right word to communicate the meaning. Make tone fit content. Serious story. Serious headline. Funny story. Funny headline.
![Page 5: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Story 2 — Write: 1-line headline counting 26-32 The high school was awarded 21st Century grant programs
for the 2011-2012 school year. The federal grant will provide funding for a variety of after-school activities for students.
“The district is excited about this new opportunity,” grant director Steve Robbins said. “We will be able to offer unique activities like sewing, cooking, outdoor sports and more.”
History teacher Penny White said she plans to offer an extreme frisbee class.
“I asked my classes if they would be interested in the class, and I had more than 20 students raise their hands,” White said. “We have a lot of athletic students who are not involved in school teams. This will give them a place to belong.”
Freshman Millie James said she participated in 21st Century grant classes at her former school in Dallas. “I took a really cool e-zine class, and we published a magazine for teen girls,” she said.
![Page 6: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
The high school was awarded 21st Century grant programs for the 2011-2012 school year. The federal grant will provide funding for a variety of after-school activities for students.
High school awarded grant for after-school activities – 43
District wins after-school grant - 32
![Page 7: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Kinds of Head(line)s
![Page 8: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
• 1-line-headline Bricklayers engage in mortar combat
![Page 9: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
• 2-line-headline
Backers hot for chili
as U.S. official food
![Page 10: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
• 3-line-headline
Principal adds
six electives
to summer school
![Page 11: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
• Main/secondary headline
Standing tall 5’-4” guard rises to challenge of leading Tigers
![Page 12: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Main/secondary headline
Driven to destruction Police play game of cat and mouse with illegal racers
![Page 13: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
• Main/secondary headline
Whole new ballgame Nolan Ryan makes smooth transition to job helping oversee state’s parks, wildlife areas
![Page 14: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
• Main/Secondary headline
Up to date Senior makes over dad for online auction
![Page 15: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
• Be as specific as possible in your headline. Get to the heart of the news. (not good) School board discusses items at heated Tuesday meeting
![Page 16: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
(better – more specific) 2 board members walk out over budget argument
![Page 17: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
• Avoid semicolons. The headline should be a single sentence, not a collection of sentences.
Hurricane strikes; school swamped; pep rally cancelled
Better: Pep rally cancelled after hurricane slams into school
![Page 18: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
• Don’t pad headlines with school initials or dates. Also, avoid initials and abbreviations in headlines. Too vague…
2011 MHS FFA plans to hold annual rodeo
![Page 19: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
• More specific…
Willie Nelson to appear at FFA rodeo Saturday
![Page 20: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
• Put all parts of a verb on the same line avoid be verbs and linking verbs. Action. Shoot for present tense or future tense.
(weak) Spongebob will attend Mensa meeting purely as spectator (better) Spongebob to attend Mensa meeting purely as spectator
![Page 21: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
• Put all parts of a verb on the same line Strive for present/future tense, action verbs
(weak) Nichols will not appear in court (better) Nichols avoids district court appearance
![Page 22: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
• No articles. Use a comma instead of “and” Heat wave blisters California, Texas
![Page 23: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
• No clichés. Swimmers dive into season
Golfers swing into action
Exchange students say ‘Hasta la vista’
Math Club multiplies
Football team tackles opposition
Drama Club acts up
Military recruiters say, ‘I Want You’
![Page 24: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
• Do not repeat key words or phrases from the main headline into the secondary headline
Pocket lasers banned Authorities ban laser pointers
Just in case you didn’t catch it, the repetition is the word “laser” and “ban”
![Page 25: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Pocket lasers banned Principal cites injuries, class disruptions
This headline provides twice as much information in the same amount of space! Yippee!
![Page 26: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
• Avoid "headline-ese" either in the form of simplified spellings or odd synonyms. Board to meet Vball team destroys Tuesday nite Southside in finals Senior play to continue thru Easter
![Page 27: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
• Avoid initials or abbreviations, unless the initials are instantly recognizable. From the UT-Austin’s Daily Texan: ACLU considers lawsuit for SFA’s YCT
![Page 28: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
• Avoid passive verbs in headlines. Internet fraud is cause of worry for administrators
Better: Internet fraud concerns administrators
![Page 29: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
• It is permissible to use implied passive verbs. Mosquitos (are) biting into summer fun Federal grant (is) renewed
![Page 30: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
• Put modifiers and words modified on the same line Fire guts Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 2 injured
![Page 31: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
• Put all parts of a verb on the same line (weak) Big surprise: Nader will run for president again (better) Big surprise: Nader to run for U.S. president again
![Page 32: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
• Do not end a line with a preposition Baseball team ready for playoff game, coach says
![Page 33: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
• Do not end a line with a preposition No love lost between Longhorns, Sooners
![Page 34: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
• When separating two sentences in a headline, do so with a semi-colon. Bardwell named Educator of the Year; experts call it sign of plunging standards
![Page 35: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
• The main headline should never be dependent on a kicker or other secondary headline. (incorrect) If elected in November, Obama Says he will get U.S. out of Iraq (correct) Getting out Obama promises to end Iraq war
![Page 36: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
• Alliteration in headlines should be used sparingly and in appropriate situations. Acceptable:
New Planetary Puzzlers A distant, oversize world causes cosmic confusion
![Page 37: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Take ‘meowt’ to the cat show Annual festival of felines begins today
![Page 38: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
• Unacceptable:
Cheney’s chest chink Vice president’s thumper goes thud
![Page 39: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
• The headline should reflect the mood of the story.
Band itching for practice as soon as mosquitos killed
![Page 40: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
Bears capture playoff birth
• Be careful of word use and misinterpretation.
![Page 41: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
Bush, Kerry butt heads
![Page 42: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
Panda mating fails; veterinarian takes over
![Page 43: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Be sure to eat right before surgery
![Page 44: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
Kicking baby considered to be healthy
![Page 45: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Crowds rushing to see Pope trample 6 to death
![Page 46: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Police Say Man Hid Crack in Buttocks
![Page 47: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
A few more rules … • Avoid contractions • Do not end a headline with a period • Avoid names unless they are easily recognizable • Always use single quotes in headlines
![Page 48: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Let’s look at a story: Write: 1-line main headline counting 14-20 and a 2-line secondary headline with each line counting 19-25 When sophomore Dominic Brown was seven years old, he built a three-foot high bike ramp at the bottom of his steep driveway. The ramp lasted one jump before his mother dismantled it. But that one jump was all Dominic needed to get his adrenaline rushing. “I love to take risks and I love to do stunts on my bikes,” he said. “It drives my mother crazy.” On April 7, Dominic will participate in the Texas Extreme Biking Competition in Bandera. He will compete against 75 other teens from across the state in three different challenges. “This is my first time to compete at this level so I don’t expect to win, but I am hoping to place in the top 10,” Dominic said. Dominic said he is unsure whether his mother will attend the competition. “My mother hates these competitions,” he said. “In my last competition, I took a pretty hard fall, and she rushed to the field. It was a little embarrassing.” Despite the dangers of his sport, Dominic said he’s never broken a bone or had stitches from his biking stunts. “I guess I am pretty lucky,” he said. “My buddy Derek broke his collarbone and left arm last month.”
![Page 49: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Risky business 14 Sophomore to compete 20 �in extreme biking contest 25
![Page 50: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
Let’s look at a story: Write: 1-line main headline counting 12-18 and a 2-line secondary headline with each line counting 14-21 Like many high school teens, Shanda Hall fell in love during her sophomore year.
But it wasn’t a boy that caught her affection. Shanda fell deeply in love with the Twilight series of books. “I’ve read all of the books three times already,” she said. “I can’t get enough of them.” To honor her love, Shanda started the Twilight Club so students could get together to discuss the books and movies and plan events. The club meets during lunch on Wednesday in Room 203. “When I first proposed this club, my friends thought I was a little crazy,” Hall said. “But now, three months later, we have 25 members.” Shanda said as more students read the books and see the movie, she expects her club to grow even larger. “Almost everyone who reads the book or sees the movie loves the series,” Shanda said. The next large event for the club is a Vampire Camp Out in April. “We all plan to read our favorite passages by the fire,” she said. “It’s not like we believe in vampires, but we believe in the words and messages of the books.” Junior Christine Razor said she joined the group about a month ago. “Basically, we are a book club/movie club,” she said. “It’s just that we only discuss one particular series of books and movies.”
![Page 51: It’s all in your Head(line) Headline Writing Contest: • Six stories, six headlines • 45 minutes (about 7 minutes a story) • Count parameters • About speed and creativity](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022051722/5aa89d897f8b9a77188bc1dd/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
Twilight Zone 13 Book club focuses 17 �on vampire series 17