Journalistic Headlines


Journalistic Headlines  

12 members have voted

  1. 1. How do you feel about these common plays on words?

    • I enjoy them
      2
    • Doesn't matter to me
      5
    • I think they've gotten pretty old, a focus on just being informative instead of a failed attempt at wit would suit me better
      5
    • other
      0


Recommended Posts

In journalistic writing, through reading things and being in journalism myself, I've noticed certain types of headlines. For example, a thread for Real World Issues:

"Canada Pot decriminalization bill goes up in smoke"

I see this a lot in local Newspapers and the like. Headlines where the author tries to create some witty play on words. I can't recall one I ever found to be particularly good or funny. Personally, I think the space could be better used to simply inform rather than attempt to entertain, but could just be me. It just hasn't ever stried me as good writing. I remember my highschool newspaper teacher pushing us to use them and I never would.

It doesn't bother me to see it, I just think theres some room for improvement in how the space is used. Option 3 for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, how I hate those.

They drive me up the wall, they are just so stupid.

Non-existent grammar and over sensationalising things just to inflame stupid people. Typical trait of tabloid rags, which I loathe.

To be fair though, the example Raum gave wasn't so bad - and wouldn't bother me toooo much. It's the ones where three words are used instead of a proper sentence. People who make a career out of writing should use proper Enlish (or whatever language is appropriate).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see anything wrong with headlines of that type. The goal of the article is to inform, but the goal of the headline is just to entice; as long as people read on, it's a win win, no?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see anything wrong with headlines of that type. The goal of the article is to inform, but the goal of the headline is just to entice; as long as people read on, it's a win win, no?

MMhmmm, hear ya...but with me, I'll read a headline like that and just shake my head and think, "My, that was stupid." Seems like something I'd expect a Junior High newspaper staff to do, not national newspapers with millions of readers. Who knows what others think of em...kind of why I made the poll in the first place. :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see anything wrong with headlines of that type. The goal of the article is to inform, but the goal of the headline is just to entice; as long as people read on, it's a win win, no?

Fair enough, I don't want to get into a debate about it but ...

they entice you by being misleading about the content which irritates me. If I actually allow myself to be lured in by such a headline I usually find the content is lacking and don't finish the article anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having worked in the newspaper industry - I HATE THEM. We used to have a wall of shame, where we stuck bad ones we had found. Every year, we got the old "Snow Joke" etc.

Everybody hates them, but suprisingly enough, sales go up when there is one of the front wrap!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.