HEADLINE WRITING 101Andrew Chavez, Texas Center for Community Journalism

TYPES OF TYPE

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ATHLETICS

Football coach arrested after championship game brawlCharges pending in post-game scuffle that injured two

MORE DISPLAY TYPE

On the run

Suspect in fatal shooting escapes from jail

THE BASICS

Has a noun and a verb Present tense Active voice

Right: Council fires city manager Wrong: City manager fired by council

Usually write in sentence case

THERE’S MORE

Use attribution when necessary (except on opinion page) Mayor: Budget shortfall expected Budget shortfall expected, mayor says

Numerals are OK Use quotes if warranted

Report: Officer’s actions ‘inexcusable’ No the, a, or an

FITTING HEADLINES

Make sure lines are at least close to equal

Police chieffired, cause unknownXX

Police chief’s firing aXXXX mysteryXXX

BEGINNER’S METHOD

Don’t write on deadline if you don’t have to Read the story Think of keywords Seek out synonyms Take a break if you’re frustrated Make it a team effort

BEST PRACTICES

Grab attention Don‘t echo the lede Think how it will play on the page

Watch for duplicate phrases Beware of awkward situations

Consider the fold Don’t state the obvious

School Board to meet Friday Make sure it accurately represents the story

SPICE IT UP

Don’t hide the news Good: Smith ends campaign Hidden news: Smith’s campaign over

Try a possessive Without: Term of Smith not over, judge rules With: Smith’s term not over, judge rules

Personify – occasionally With: Last day of wintry weather ahead Without: Wintry weather to take a break

EXAMPLES

Virus prompts alteration in visitationsA gastrointenstinal illness could affect visitation at some local prison units this weekend, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.Visitation was cancelled last week at the Crain nit after 79 offenders were reported ill with the virus.

EXAMPLES

Stomach bug may affect prisoner visits

RANKING

Procedures to change for heavy trucksCounty road use will require 90-day permit, commissioners say

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM YOU

Making stronger tea togetherfor an opinion column on the tea party

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM ACES

Touch 'em allfor a story on a pair of 23-year-old friends who visited all 30 major league baseball stadiums in 50 days

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM ACES

Everybody plays, nobody winson a story about the All-Star game which ran out of players and ended in a tie.

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM ACES

Everybody plays, nobody winson a story about the All-Star game which ran out of players and ended in a tie.

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM ACES

This is, like, CNNCable News Network's latest investigativepiece: Find a younger, dumber, hipperviewership

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM ACES

Allergy season coming achoo!on a piece about the early onset of tree-pollen allergies

GOOD EXAMPLES FROM ACES

It’s Amman’s worldfor a story on Jordan cracking down on women’s rights

Q&A