HEADLINE WRITING

EAST GUSA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

JOURNALISM CAMP
DAY 5 (APRIL 27, 2018)
 HEADLINE WRITING

HEADLINE is an assemblage of words written in

bigger, bolder letters than the usual page text at
the beginning of the news, also known as the
head.
The word “headline” is understood by many people
to mean the biggest story of the
day. In journalism, however,
“headline” is the title of a news
story big or small.
 HEADLINE WRITING

It serves as a quick source of information. It is written

to tell the story what is it all about, to attract
readers, and to grade the news on its importance.
It is always short and simple.
Headline writing requires skill and concentration .It
must give the essence of the story. While
explaining the story accurately, your headline also
must fit into a limited space.
 HEADLINE WRITING

A well-written story will go unread if the headline does

not grab the reader. Headlines also serve as a
graphic element on the page.
Good headlines capture the readers’ attention and
make them want to explore the story.
Bad headlines confuse readers, turn them off, invite
criticism, invoke laughter (for the wrong reasons),
or are just moronic.
 STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE

Step 1- Read the article, especially the lead

(first) paragraph. The headline must convey a
brief synopsis of the article and must be
accurate, so knowledge of the information in
the article is imperative.
 STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE

Step 2-Decide on the most important information to

be conveyed in the headline: what will grab the
attention of the most readers? In news articles, the
most significant information should be in the very first
couple of sentences. The headline has to fit within the
space available for it. If the amount of space available
is unknown, be prepared to edit down the headline as
needed in order to fit.
 STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE

Step 3-Check guidelines: each publication has

different guidelines regarding what to include
in the headline. Some allow certain forms of
punctuation, such as a colon, while others do
not. Verify with the publication what their
guidelines require.
 STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE
Step 4-Consider the appearance of the
headline. The font size of the letters used
often convey to the reader the article's
importance. Major world events are typically
one or two words in very large font size across
the entire top of the newspaper, while smaller
local stories or news that isn't that unusual
are printed in a smaller font size that only
takes up a column or two in the paper.
 STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE

Step 5- Write the headline. There are

several things to consider while writing
the headline

Step 6-Confirm that there are no more

errors in form and in content.
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

1. Use specific words. Make the information

as exact as you can in the limited space of the
headline

Wrong: Politician wins election.

Correct: Duterte wins presidential post.
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE
2. State facts, avoid opinion
Ex. Fact: The Core first in press tilts
With opinion: The Core luckily tops
prestigious press tilts
3. Use Active voice. The doer of the action must
be in the subject position. However, use the
passive voice when the action is more significant
than the doer.
Example: SC postpones general meeting
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

4. Use the historical present (the present form

of the verb for the past events, and the
infinitive form for the future events.

Wrong: The Core copped 5 trophies at NSSPC

Correct: The Core cops 5 trophies at NSSPC
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE
5. Omit all articles a, an, the and other
unnecessary words.
Wrong: The 7 cops hurt in ambush
Correct: 7 cops hurt in ambush

6. Avoid label head

Wrong: Auctioned
Correct: Imelda jewelry auctioned
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

7. Do not editorialize your headline.

Wrong: Ang Alab shows great performance in DSSPC.
Correct: Ang Alab wins 6 out of 7 in DSSPC writing contests
8. Do not use the same word twice in the headline or kicker
Gun haul
Manila cops seize 25 guns
from suspected bandits
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

9. Never use the word “may”. It denotes the

uncertain element of the story.

Wrong: Sayyaf may demand P1M for release of

3 captives
Correct: Sayyaf demands P1M for release of
3 captives.
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE
10. To use direct quotation as head, use any of the
following forms instead of the traditional quotation
marks:

A. Using the dash instead of the quotation mark.

Example: Truth commission repugnant – Miriam

B. Using the colon

Example: Joker: Cut debates, fast-track canvass
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE
C. Using narrative form
Example: No poverty reduction, says
Briones

11. Do not be in the negative.

Poor: Summer Training in Journalism won’t be held
Better: Summer Training in Journalism cancelled
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

12. The first letter of the word and proper nouns are
generally capitalized.
Example: Bell saves Tigers from Coffee Makers
13. Avoid awkward verbal breaks
Wrong: Noynoy dreads ‘isolated’ life in
Malacanang
Right: Noynoy dreads ‘isolated’ life
in Malacanang
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

14. Mention only the name of person, who is

prominent
Wrong: Jacoba wins Microsoft global award
Right: Filipino wins Microsoft Global award

15. Use M for million and B for billion

Example: West Visayas gets P 600 M for typhoon
victims
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

16. Use comma instead of and.

Example: No goodbyes for Jamby, Nene, Mar, Noy at
Senate

17. Separate double headline by a semicolon.

Example: Bomb explodes at Koronadal market; 13
killed, 53 hurt

18. Do not end the headline with a period.

 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

19. Use infinitive for future events.

Example: Aquino to visit Saudi on way to NY

20. Avoid splitting compound word

Wrong: Aquino to award taxi
driver for honesty
Right: Aquino to award taxi driver for honesty
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

21. Avoid wooden heads or headlines without a verb.

Wrong: Ten student delegates at UN
Correct: Ten student delegates visit UN
22. Avoid splitting words that naturally go together
Wrong: Garcians celebrate Buwan
ng Wika with beauty tilt
Right: Garcians hold Buwan ng Wika with beauty
contest
 GUIDELINES IN WRITING HEADLINE

23. Do not start the headline with a verb.

Wrong: Destroy crops worth P 50 M

Correct: P 50M worth crops destroyed
 TYPES OF HEADLINE

A. According to Purpose
1. Informative or conventional headlines. They are
designed to inform. These are the ones the public
usually reads in broadsheet and tabloids
a. Palace dares Aquino to sustain economic
growth
b. Manual audit shows ‘no vote tampering’
 TYPES OF HEADLINE
2. Intriguing or feature headlines. Their main
purpose is to intrigue readers and elicit
responses. They often do not give the
summary of the story. Feature heads are
made more arresting by using different style of
writing and attractive font types.
a. What Happened to Tax Evaders?
b. Is there a need for Sex Education?
HEADLINE VOCABULARY
accord – agreement cite – enumerate, mention
allay – calm confab – conference
allot – apportion, set a side cop – police
anew – again cow- frighten
assail – attack crown – win
ax – dismiss curb – control, stop
bare – reveal, expose cut – decrease
bat – defend dip – decrease, decline
bid – request draw fire – to be criticized
blast – criticize dry run – rehearsal
HEADLINE VOCABULARY
due – deadline, scheduled hike – increase
ex – former hit – attack
to eye – consider inquiry – investigation
feud – quarrel, dispute ink – to sign a contract
foil – thwart, reject junk – to throw way, decline
gab – conference kin – family
gird – brace, prepare kit – package
go – try letup – temporary easing up
grill – question, interrogate link – connect
hail – welcome lull – calm
HEADLINE VOCABULARY
meet – conference, to convene
memo – memorandum
mull – plan, to think of
mum – silent
nab – arrest
nix – reject
okay – approve, accept
peg – to fix at a certain amount
or level
pit – oppose
post – position, to assign
power – electricity
probe – to investigate
prod – prick
quit – resign
quiz – question
ratify – approve
raze – destroy
revamp – to change, reshuffle
rift – disagreement
row – dispute, disagreement
HEADLINE VOCABULARY
rule – decide, decision
sans – without
scan – examine
scribe – newspaperman
shakeup – reshuffle
skip – avoid
slay – kill, assassinate
solon – lawmaker
try – attempt
EXERCISES
Write headline from the following leads:

1. Staffers of the school papers “The Leaf” and the

“Ang Dahon” underwent a 2-day rigid training in
journalistic writing as a preparation for their
participation in the Division Press Conference.
EXERCISES

2. Starting April, the Quezon City government

will not allow construction of new buildings
in the city without complying with “green
building standards.”
EXERCISES

3. A fire of unknown origin gutted the

multipurpose building during the semestral
break. The 5-year old two-room building
housed the library and the six units of
computer. The fire which occurred at high
noon was construed to be caused by
electrical wirings.
EXERCISES

4. Two people died and five others were hurt

when an unidentified man lobbed a
fragmentation grenade along Baguio City’s
Leonard Wood Road shortly before dawn
Tuesday, a police official said.
EXERCISES

5. MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and

Spain signed three agreements on
assistance for health reform efforts in the
Bicol and Caraga regions.
 END…

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

GOD BLESS YOU.

MS. MA. FE EVANGELINE D. SAPON

is singing off! 