Headlines
Definition of Headlines
Headlines are concise yet impactful phrases that summarize the essence of an article, playing a crucial role in capturing a reader’s attention and influencing whether they engage with the content. They are widely used in news articles, blog posts, advertisements, social media, and press releases, serving as a gateway to the main story. In Telugu, they are referred to as 'Siirshikalu.'
A well-crafted headline is typically limited to one or two sentences, providing a quick yet clear overview of the content. Given the fast-paced nature of information consumption, headlines help readers grasp the key message at a glance, making them an essential feature in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms. In print media, headlines are usually presented in a uniform type and font size for readability and consistency.
To be effective, headlines must be bold, clear, and compelling while maintaining brevity and occupying minimal space. They should be persuasive and engaging, drawing readers into the article while remaining accurate and relevant to the content. A strong headline not only informs but also entices, ensuring that the article reaches and resonates with its intended audience.
Functions of Headlines
To divide the news in the pages clearly and make it easier for the reader.
To create a sense of interest in the reader by projecting the news.
To highlight the news according to fields they belong to. For example: politics, reports, culture etc.
To give a brief outline of the news making it to the point, quick, easier and concise.
To create a visual index of the news printed in the papers.
Importance of Headlines
The headline is the most important part of any piece of writing - whether it is an article, newsletter, sales copy, blog entry, web page, email or business report.
2. Indirect headline
3. Benefit Headline
Characteristics of News Headlines:
13. Command headline
14. Emotional headline
15. Wordplay headline
16. Brand name headline
17. Best headline
18. Two-part headline
19. Relational headlines
20. Location-specific headline
21. Challenging belief headline
22. Confrontational headline
23. Testimonial headline
24. The "backed by science" headline
25. Background headline
Online or Print Media – What are the types of Headlines Used Effectively?
Headlines do not have more than one or two sentences and are helpful in taking a rapid glance at the news since their main aim is to help the reader to get an idea about the news within a few seconds only.
Headline can also be defined as a title for an article in a newspaper, usually one line or sometimes even more, which is set in larger and bolder font type than the body of the article and indicating the subject matter or content of the article.
Headlines must also be catchy, thereby being bold and clear and must also occupy less space and be concise. The point is to get the attention of the reader and draw him into the story.
Garst and Bernstein (Mardh 1980, as cited in Bharani,1996) stated that, “headlines are governed essentially by the requirement of utility”. This statement means that headlines help in creating interest and curiosity among the readers, headlines play a crucial role, as their language has its own grammar. It can also provide a brief summary of the text.
It is the choice of the reader, whether to read the whole text or not. Straumann (Bharani, 1996) called headlines 'block language' which includes various other natural languages like posters, labels, and telegrams. Block language has grammatical units lower than that of a sentence or clause. Headlines are, in a sense, the results of the ellipsis since they are modified and limited to noun phrases. For example, there is omission of articles etc.
Without a good headline the rest of the news or article will not be read. Busy people keep their lives manageable by deciding almost instantly whether something is worth their time or not. The headline is the first and sometimes the only chance to draw in people to particular news.
For both online and print media, headlines play an essential role in promoting business. Why these approaches exist is because of its major purpose to catch readers’ attention. Because of this bottom line: To achieve higher sales.
Types of Headlines
1. Direct Headline
A direct headline clearly states the purpose of an article , it is a straight-to-the-point headline. It usually involves facts in the article to summarize the overall idea. Readers know exactly what they are going to read or see when you use a direct headline. It is very specific and very serious. No jokes. No wordplay. It is not dull, but it is direct. But if you choose this kind of headline make sure you have it all that suffice what the headline tells.
Example :
"RBI Raises Repo Rate by 0.5% to Control Inflation
"India Records Highest Monsoon Rainfall in a Decade"
An indirect headline takes a subtle approach by hinting at the main point of an article. Since it doesn't directly state the key idea, it targets a reader's curiosity to discover what the article is about.
Example:
"Will India Overtake China as the World's Fastest-Growing Economy?"
"How Safe Are Indian Railways for Women Passengers?"
Benefit headline is another type of headline that compels the attention of the readers. This is often very promising. If you are writing a headline for Online-publish, you must know your audience well, so you can offer them a compelling reason to believe.
“Never miss a sale, Free Apps and Card Reader” – Online
4. Question Headline
A question headline is a type of headline which is best for segmentation experiences. A question headline poses a question to readers with the intention of providing the answer within the article.They sometimes overlap with “how-to” and “why” headlines, and they follow a similar principle .It is suggested that one should strive to write question headlines that ki audience can’t answer with a simple “yes” or “no”. After all, if your audience feels like they can answer the question without reading your article, why would they need to read it?
Example:
"Can India Achieve Its Renewable Energy Goals by 2030?"
"What Does the New Tax Reform Mean for the Common Man?"
5. Attention-Grabbing
Attention-grabbing headlines can be provocative, shocking or use a play on words. This might be any of the above types of headlines listed. However, attention-grabbing headlines, especially when printed in a newspaper, is risky, because there might be audiences that misunderstand what you really mean about it, maybe because of the words used or any other factor. In using this type of headline, there must be some element to consider, be careful not to offend your reader, keep an eye to the words used. “Get paid for 50 cents, fast, online, secure!” – (Online) Intuit
6. How-To headline
How-to headlines often constitute the ideals of step-by-step information given in a specific article. This type of headline teaches readers ways to learn a new skill or solve a problem through an outline of steps. To write a how-to headline, writers start with the phrase "how to," followed by the action they want their readers to learn. It also helps highlight why that particular article might benefit them. Of course, when you use a “how-to” headline, you will want to use it to title a piece that follows through with your promise. For example, if you use the headline “How to Build a Boat”, one should include at least a basic overview of how to construct a boat.You can also add details to your “how-to” headline to give your audience clear expectations about your piece.
Example:
"How To Drive in a Foreign Country Like a Local"
“How to make a delicious salad this summer.”
7. List Headline
This is the best approach for a “how-to headline.” List headline tells the specific number of things provided in an article. This informs the readers the things listed inside the article that they might need to know.
8. News Headline
News headlines make important announcements about a company or its products and inform readers about current affairs, policy changes, or breaking news. They should be clear, concise, and fact- driven.
Accuracy: The information should be factual and verifiable.
Timeliness: News headlines should reflect current events.
Clarity: They should be easy to understand without ambiguity.
Journalists often use these types of headlines in news articles to efficiently share recent information with the public.
Example:
"India Becomes the World’s Fifth-Largest Economy"
"Supreme Court Strikes Down Controversial Law on Free Speech"
"Parliament Passes Landmark Women’s Reservation Bill"
9. Flush Left Headline
This is one of the more modern headline forms in use. It consists of two or three lines of headline, each one set flush left to the left side of the space. The design is simple and allows freedom in writing the headline. No rules govern the writing of the flush left headline; however a uniform style for better results is generally adopted. This type of headline is popular because it is easy to write, allows flexibility in unit count and provides a feeling of airiness to the page with the white space.The idea is to create a strong visual flow that makes the content easy to read and approachable.
Examples :
“50% Off – Shop Now and Save Big on Your Favorite Items!”
“Experience the Latest Technology with Our Brand-New Laptop!”
10. Banner Headline
The journalism industry is highly competitive, and attracting the attention of the readers, viewers or listeners is the most important thing. The audience should have a reason for choosing a particular newspaper, television channel or radio station. Headlines play an important role in attracting attention, especially in print media. Banner headlines are words printed in extra large letters across the top of the cover page of the newspaper. Startling banner headlines that describe in a few words a happening story can help increase sales.
Banner headlines are words printed in extra large letters across the top of the front page of the newspaper on extremely important stories; they are not used frequently,but when they are used, they have a significant impact. 150-170 points
Example :
“PM’S NO LOSS GAME WITH G4 GAMBLE”
"HISTORIC BILL PASSED: 50% SEATS RESERVED FOR WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT"
11. Inverted Pyramid Headline
There are distinct advantages to using the inverted pyramid headline style for news writing. People often are in a rush and seldom have time to read every word of a story. The advantage of the inverted pyramid headline is that it concentrates on presenting pertinent facts first. With inverted pyramid stories, the most important information goes in the first paragraph, and the less important information follows to the very end of the story. The inverted pyramid headline generally consists of three lines, the first runs across the column and the other two lines are shorter than the first line. The headline is created from the informative facts presented at the start of the story.
Examples :
"Govt Launches Free Digital Learning for Rural Students, Aims to Bridge Education Gap"
"India's New Gender Equality Law to Boost Women's Workplace Rights, Experts Say"
12. Cross-Line Headline
The cross-line headline is quite similar to a banner headline. While it is a large headline, it does not span the entire width of the page, but it does run across all the columns of the story it pertains to. The cross-line headline is one of the simplest types of headlines, consisting of a single line and one or more columns in width. It can run flush on both sides of the paper or it can have the words centred over the columns. This type of headline is generally used when there is more than one column for a story and to produce a formal look.
Example: "New Study Reveals Shocking Health Risks—How You Can Protect Yourself from the Dangers"
First line: "New Study Reveals Shocking Health Risks"
Second line: "How You Can Protect Yourself from the Dangers"
Command headlines tell readers what to do or what they can learn by reading an article. Companies typically use this type of headline when creating an advertisement. Most command headlines start with a strong action verb.
Example:
"Check Your PAN-Aadhaar Link Status Before the Deadline"
"Apply Now for Government Subsidies on Electric Vehicles"
Emotional headlines typically target either a positive or negative feeling to encourage an audience to read an article. To do this, writers use powerful words such as affordable or stressed.
Example:
"Ways You Can Prevent Work Burnout in the New Year"
"Get Ready for the Biggest Festival Sale of the Year – Offers You Can’t Miss!"
A wordplay headline uses a creative formation of words and phrasing, typically in the form of a pun or irony. Companies often use these headlines when trying to make a less important topic amusing.
Example:
"Local Auto Race Hits Bump in the Road"
Brand name headlines use recognizable organizations to compare a company's business or products to its competitors. This can be helpful for new businesses trying to participate in a similar market as a more established company.
Example:
"Skeeter Expected to Gain More Popularity Than Peach Scooter"
Best headlines rank certain items above others. These can attract readers who look for top-rated content, such as the best restaurants to try or the best computer to buy, for example.
Example:
"Best Cities To Live in After College"
A two-part headline uses a punctuation mark, such as a colon, em dash or parentheses to combine two ideas. Usually, both parts of these headlines can stand alone, but together, they increase the chances of capturing a reader's attention.
Example:
"Why Word-of-Mouth Advertising Can Increase Sales: The Five Key Steps"
Relational headlines connect a reader to the subject of an article by using second-person language. Relating the topic to the reader helps them become interested in reading and discovering how this article can help them.
Example:
"Here's How You Could Make $1,000 From Your Couch"
Location-specific headlines attract readers by making them feel included in knowledge only a select group of people would know. These headlines focus on something that people in a particular area share in common.
Example:
\"12 Things Anyone Who Lives in Seattle Knows To Be True"
A challenging belief headline convinces individuals to read by using a reverse psychology technique. Usually, these headlines begin with, "You won't believe..." which often makes viewers want to read an article to see whether it actually surprised them.
Example:
"You Won't Believe How Celebrities Are Losing Belly Fat"
Confrontational headlines are persuasive, as they attract people who either agree with the headline or have opposing opinions. Posing a controversial stance can entice individuals to read and see whether the article changed or enforced their existing opinions.
Example:
"12 Reasons Why Recycling Is Hurting the Planet"
"Why Are Millions of Indian Kids Still Out of School?"
A testimonial headline features a real-life experience or endorsement from an individual, often to build credibility and emotional connection.
Example:
"This Cooking Plan Helps Me Make Meals for My Picky Children"
"‘Online Classes Changed My Life’ – A Village Girl’s Journey to Becoming an Engineer"
"‘Solar Power Saved My Farm’ – A Farmer’s Story of Sustainable Agriculture"
This headline supports a statement by confirming its thesis with scientific evidence and proof. Writers use these headlines for articles that include research on a particular idea.
Example:
"Scientists Believe Cicadas Are About To Emerge From Underground"
"Studies Show Digital Learning Boosts Rural Students’ Performance by 40%"
"Scientists Prove: India’s Reforestation Efforts Are Reducing Air Pollution Levels"
Background headlines start with contextual information. This is usually a two-part headline, with the first part providing background and the second half explaining the significance or reason for the first statement.
examples :
"How Digital Classrooms Are Transforming Rural India’s Education System"
"The Silent Revolution: How Women Entrepreneurs Are Changing India’s Economy"
26. Quotation Headline
A quotation headline is the one that uses quotes in order that its impact is not reduced or lost after it is paraphrased. A quote is not a story in itself and hence is used to emphasize a news angle or news point. That is why quotes are used sparsely in headlines.
Examples :
"‘We Must Act Now’ – Climate Activist Urges India to Cut Carbon Emissions"
"‘Women’s Safety Is Our Top Priority’ – Government Announces New Policy Measures"
Headline, Technical Writing Process
Writing a headline involves both the literary and technical aspects. Font size, positioning of text, font style, width of the text and presentation are some of the technical considerations one must keep in mind while writing the headlines. Selection of words, sentence structure and the headline type are some of the literary aspects.
1) Display and Point Size
Headlines have to be designed to fit into the allotted space. Thus, in a three column (3-col) story, the headline must occupy three columns of type only. In larger publications, generally one of the editors is assigned the job of determining the headline size, while others decide the headline content. A shorthand communication as 2-36-2 (two- thirty six-two) means that the story has two columns requiring a 36-point (pt) head arranged in two lines.
Such a headline is also known as a double-decker head in the newsroom or the production department. Shorthand for headlines is written in the following sequence: number of columns, the type size and the number of lines. The height of type size is measured in points while its width is measured in picas. The type sizes are standard. A type size, which is equal to or smaller than about 12 pt., is best used for body text and is rarely used for headlines. Larger than this point is used for headlines that follow a font size in the range of 14-84. Such headlines are also known as display type.
2)Width, Weight, and Style
Width of a headline is decided based on the newspaper columns allotted to the news story. When a headline is bigger than the column space provided, double decker headline is used i.e., it is split in two lines instead of one. Setting the distance between letters, known as kerning the text, also helps reduce space between the words, allowing the headline to fit into the given width. The bolder the font the greater is the weight of the headline. Weight of a headline suggests the priority given to the news story by the editor.
Weight is also related to the font style chosen for writing the headline, e.g., a story written in Light /Semi Light style has lesser weight than that written in Condensed or Bold. Similarly, the font style also helps to decide the weight of a news story. The headlines in sans serif font styles are soft news or feature news stories. The headlines in serif fonts have more weight. Newspapers using sans serif fonts only, opt for a font family providing them a variety of font styles and weights.
3)Deciding News Angle
Generally, News Angle means perspective based on some element or point of the story. For example, a story can be written from the perspective of the people or Headline and Lead Writing.
Read more: Types Of Headlines | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8440583_types-headlines.html#ixzz28x4j1IdW
July 20th, 2012 Jonathan Page-Acabo
PRESS NEWS PRINTING– Headline is a caption printed at the top of an article or a page in a newspaper. It is usually printed in large or bold letters which often summarise the content that follows it. Headlines are very catchy that drive the reader’s attention to read the entire article.
ONLINE – Headline is not only used in printed Newspaper but it is also very much effective in Online businesses. Nowadays, online marketing is more effective than traditional print media marketing.
For both online and print media, headlines play an essential role in promoting business. Why these approaches exist is because of its major purpose to catch readers’ attention. Because of this bottomline: To achieve higher sales.
Types of Headlines that might enhance your journalistic skills
Whatever your understanding of how you define HEADLINE, there is only one total-sum of that, it is the most important element for both printed news and online articles like blogs. Headline engages readers, and you as writer will make sure what the headline tells is provided in your content. Headline writing, however, is one that takes time, practice and patience. So, to help you attain the most effective headline that suits your needs for both online and printed adverts, here
TIPS: Conciseness
Did you notice that my sample headlines given above did not exceed up to 10 words? In writing headline, either it is published in newspaper or online, the principle is “the shorter, the better.” Make sure your headline showcases everything that the reader might need to know and get engaged to read the rest of the article.
For Online Writing, in order to have a unique but engaging and effective headline, try to copy and paste your headline to search engines and see the best results that come up. If it already exists, there is nothing wrong with that, but you may not want your article to be associated with the content beneath that existing one especially if it’s of inferior quality, however, you can do something that suffice your want. You may consider altering some words or try revising the entire headline itself.
The cross-line:
The cross-line headline is quite similar to a banner headline. While it is a large headline, it does not span the entire width of the page, but it does run across all the columns of the story it pertains to. The cross-line headline is one of the simplest types of headlines, consisting of a single line and one or most often more columns in width. It can run flush on both sides of the paper or it can have the words centred over the columns. This type of headline is generally used to produce a formal look. 100-130 points
Eg: Shashank agreed to head BCCI
The Drop-line:
This type is also known as the 'step line' or 'step head' because the lines in this type are indented and step down uniformly and progressively from the left. It usually consists of two or three lines.
Eg: Fake visa racket
Busted at IGI
The Inverted pyramid:
This form is usually employed more as a subordinate deck in a headline. It generally consists of three lines, with the top line exceeding all the way across the column. The next two lines are set to be shorter than the one above, with words centred according to the count or measure. It is one of the difficult forms of headlines as it takes more time of the sub-editor's time in setting. Still it is one of the most widely used forms of headlines.
Eg: Drinking Age: AAP goes
for debate, BJP goes
for moral science
The Hanging intention:
The desire to include more lines into the headlines has resulted in this type of headline. Like most of the smaller types of headlines, this type is also
used as a subordinate deck. The first line is set to flush on both the sides; and the other lines that follow are indented from the left with an even amount of space.
Ex: From Sunday, INA Delhi Haat to get Free wifi
The Flush left:
This is one of the more modern headline forms in use. It consists of two or three lines of headline, each one set flush left to the left side of the space. The design is simple and allows freedom in writing the headline. No rules govern the writing of the flush left headline; however a uniform style for better results is generally adopted. This type of headline is popular because it is easy to write, allows flexibility in unit count and provides a feeling of airiness to the page with the white space.
The Spread:
A headline or deck, which extends over two or more columns in length, is known as the 'spread'. The flush-left, the drop-line and the cross line are the most common headlines used in the spread.
The above-mentioned forms of headlines are very popular and most commonly used in most of the newspapers and magazines. There are various other headline forms or styles, which are less commonly used or out of use. Some such forms of headlines are listed to know the variety in headline forms.
Eg: Class X textbook says Working women cause unemployment
The Astonisher:
It belongs to one of the recent trends in headlines. In this type, a smaller line is set in a smaller type above the main deck. This smaller typed line is a striking statement or facts or idioms, which are intended to gain the attention of the reader. Occasionally it reads into the main deck. This is also called the 'read in' headline, 'over line' headline. Or 'whip-lash'.
Ex: Haj Crush 15 Indians killed, 9 from Gujarat
The Rocket:
In the rocket style of headline, the lead itself starts with a headline and takes the reader into the story. It is the most unorthodox form of headlines. It is called so because of the 'stream-lined' principle involved. Making use of the flush-left, the first word is capitalised and all the others, which follow, are handled the way they appear in ordinary composition writing. To write such headlines reporters require training and rewriting leads to different stories that will make the headline impractical.
This type headline not seen in the Indian Newspapers both English and Telugu.
Eg :Great trouble
has developed
In view country
Over the naming of
New officers who are
To handle distribution
Of funds collected for use in
Feeding and clothing victims
Of the recent storms and floods
Which swept over the area two
weeks ago
The Jump head:
Long articles or stories make it difficult, sometimes to print the stories in the same page. This becomes more difficult if we want a pleasing page-design.
Most papers carry their stories over the other pages in order to pass the reader inside the paper. When part of the story is continued to another page, it is accompanied by what is called a hump head to help the reader to find the material carried over.
Eg: Respiratory diseases on strike
Continued on Pg6
Respiratory Disease cases rose by 5m since 2012: govt
Boxed heads:
Borders or lines are drawn around a headline to give it prominence. Such deadlines are called boxed heads. Box heads are losing their importance, as there is heavy stress in using headlines, which are as simple as possible. But still in some newspapers we find usage of box heads. If lines on all four sides do not surround the headline, then it is called the 'modified Box head'. To separate a story from another story box head is used in the same column.
Sub heads:
To break up long columns of big stories, subheads are used for every two or three paragraphs to throw some light on the importance of various aspects of the story. The most common type of sub-head is a single straight line with capital letters, set centred in between the columns.
Eg: Gurgoan shows the way : car-free
Tuesdays to control maniac traffic (CROSS LINE)
3 columns
2 sub heads: 1. Air pollution level drops 21% in cyber city
2. Delhi to follow with no cars on oct 22
Headline Technical Writing Process
Writing a headline involves both the literary and technical aspects. Font size, positioning of text, font style, width of the text and presentation are some of the technical considerations one must keep in mind while writing the headlines. Selection of words, sentence structure and the headline type are some of the literary aspects.
Display and Point Size
Headlines have to be designed to fit into the allotted space. Thus, in a three column (3-col) story, the headline must occupy three columns of type only. In larger publications, generally one of the editors is assigned the job of determining the headline size, while others decide the headline content. A shorthand communication as 2-36-2 (two- thirty six-two) means that the story has two columns requiring a 36-point (pt) head arranged in two lines.
Such a headline is also known as a double-decker head in the newsroom or the production department. Shorthand for headlines is written in the following sequence: number of columns, the type size and the number of lines. The height of type size is measured in points while its width is measured in picas. The type sizes are standard. A type size, which is equal to or smaller than about 12 pt., is best used for body text and is rarely used for headlines. Larger than this point is used for headlines that follow a font size in the range of 14-84. Such headlines are also known as display type.
Width, Weight, and Style
Width of a headline is decided based on the newspaper columns allotted to the news story. When a headline is bigger than the column space provided, double decker headline is used i.e., it is split in two lines instead of one. Setting the distance between letters, known as kerning the text, also helps reduce space between the words, allowing the headline to fit into the given width. The bolder the font the greater is the weight of the headline.
Weight of a headline suggests the priority given to the news story by the editor. Weight is also related to the font style chosen for writing the headline, e.g., a story written in Light /Semi Light style has lesser weight than that written in Condensed or Bold. Similarly, the font style also helps to decide the weight of a news story. The headlines in sans serif font styles are soft news or feature news stories. The headlines in serif fonts have more weight. Newspapers using sans serif fonts only, opt for a font family providing them a variety of font styles and weights.
Deciding News Angle
Generally, News Angle means perspective based on some element or point of the story. For example, a story can be written from the perspective of the people or Headline and Lead Writing.
Writing the Headline
The best way to write an attention-grabbing headline is to understand the storyful. Thus, having got a good idea of the story, the sub-editor is able to reflect it correctly in the headline. Under headline pressures, most sub-editors/copy editors only read the opening lines of the story to come up with a headline. At times, a fact or a figure buried in the body text can also be used as a selling point in the headline. After writing the headline, one should always get a third-person to check it for its language and impact. Headlines using redundant words are best-dropped. Similarly, ambiguity has no place in headlines. Moreover, headlines contradicting the story are not to be used at all.
Rules For Writing Headlines
Writing the headlines is considered of prime importance because it is these headlines that make the news appear more interesting. According to him there are certain essential points, which are to be taken note of while writing headlines. -
a) The main points of the stories sent by the reporters are to be grasped and understood carefully by the sub-editor as quickly as possible and develop a headline.
b) The headline should be written in such a manner that it is properly fitted into the space allotted to it.
c) Usage of articles should be avoided.
d) Active verbs could be used because their usage becomes necessary
c) Usage of auxiliary verbs like 'is', 'are', 'was', 'were', ' to be' etc, should be avoided.
f) The units of the letters and their type sizes should be taken note of while writing headlines. Proper count of units of letters is very important to utilize the space provided for headlines.
g) Good editing of the report is necessary, which provides the sub-editor to give a good headline.
h) The headlines have to be written with considerable clarity, which makes the reader understand the inner content of the story easily.
i) It should always be noted that there should be good relation between the headline and its content.
j) Small and simpler words should be used in headlines.
Ex: 'go' or 'left' is better than 'departed', 'saw' is better than 'witnessed', 'talks' is better than 'consultations' and 'start' or 'begin' is better than 'commence'.
k) Different forms of headlines should be used according to the page makeup so that an attractive page could be worked out.
l) Exclamation marks and question marks should be avoided as far as possible.
REFERENCES
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/headline
https://www.threedeepmarketing.com/media/1523/headlines-ebook.pdf
https://www.slideshare.net/jaysalinas2/journalism-writing-headlines
Compiled By
Priyanshi Bhardwaj
Journalism 2023
Modified by : Jiya Pahade (Batch of 2027) and Riya Kaul (Batch of 2027)
22 comments:
Today in class, we learned about headlines, something I didn’t know much about before. I discovered that headlines are the most important part of any article, news report, or advertisement because they grab the reader’s attention and provide a quick idea of the content. A good headline should be short, clear, and engaging. We discussed different types, like direct, question-based, and catchy headlines, and how they are used to influence readers.
It was interesting to see how small word changes can make a big impact. I also realized that headlines are not just for newspapers; they are used in advertisements, blogs, and even social media posts. A strong headline can make people want to read more, while a weak one might be ignored. This lesson helped me understand how headlines shape communication and why they are so important in everyday life.
In todays class we talked about Headlines and its importance. It was an insightful session where we learnt about the different types of headlines like direct headlines , question headlines , etc and their role in the newspapers that help the audience to capture attention .
Today's lecture on headlines with Dr. Vartika Nanda was insightful. I learned that a headline is not just a title, but a crucial element that grabs the reader's attention. During the course of the lecture, we understood the importance of making headlines informative, yet concise and creative. I understood the different types of headlines, including direct, indirect, news, attention grabbing headlines. This lecture helped me realize the significance of crafting effective headlines in journalism and appreciate the skill and thought that goes into creating headlines that draw readers in and encourage them to read on.
In our lecture on headlines today, I learned that a headline is like the super-compressed DNA of any news story, capturing its essence while staying true to the bigger narrative. It’s the most crucial piece of writing because its main goal is to grab the reader's attention and entice them to engage with the content. Given the limited space and time available, headlines must be direct and to the point. We also discussed the different types of headlines and where each is appropriately used. Depending on the nature of the story, direct, indirect, and news headlines come into play. A headline’s effectiveness lies in whether it successfully attracts the reader's eye, as an editor intends. For example, take the headline “Modi tweaks Waqf Bill, passes Lok Sabha test.” If a reader continues through the article, they’ll discover the bill was passed with a vote of 288 to 232, adding context to the headline.
This assignment helped me understand the importance of headlines in newspapers. I learned that a headline is the first thing a reader notices, and its main function is to grab attention while summarizing the news. I also explored different types of headlines, such as informative, sensational, and question-based headlines. This study showed me how headlines shape public perception and play a crucial role in journalism by making news engaging and clear.
In today’s class dated 03 April 2025, we studied Headlines and how to write the headlines for a newspaper, magazine or newsletter . Headline is the title of the paragraph which is written in bold letters usually (6-7 words). They are short, compelling and attention- grabbing to interest readers to read the story. They summarises the story in few words define the tone of the story so the readers can overlook the entire story by just knowing the headline. We also learned different types of headlines (direct, indirect, question, how-to ,etc).
We studied different headlines writing techniques used in online and print news mediums. We also learned the rules used for writing a headline to write a captivating and effective headline.
Palak Payal 1371
In today's class (3rd April, 2025), we discussed about the definition of headlines, types of headlines, important and relevance of headlines etc. We got to know that there are various types of headlines based on its characteristics and feature or based on the place it is written. I learned about new types of headlines about which I was not aware earlier. For example testimonials headline, confrontational headline, backed by science headline etc. I got to know that how to differentiate different headlines and the most used headlines in digital media that is how to headline and best headline. These are majorly used to attract traffic to the websites because these headlines are eye-catching and hard to resist. That's why these are used in SEO. I learned that during writing a news story, these variety of headlines can be used to make newspaper or digital space more interesting for audiences.
In today's Rep class, we discussed headlines, their types, importance, and relevance. It was a very informative session, as I previously had only a basic understanding of headlines—knowing them simply as the titles of specific stories that should be concise and attention-grabbing.However, this insightful session introduced me to various types of headlines, such as direct, indirect, news bulletin, attention-grabbing, flush left, and more. I learned how different styles can make headlines more interesting and compelling for readers.I really enjoyed this class because it made me feel like I was engaging in real journalistic work while studying.
In today's class I learnt a lot about the different types of headlines, including some which I heard for the first time like Confrontational headlines, 'Relational Headlines' and 'Best Headlines.' It was interesting to note that there are various types of headlines which fit different articles, like direct headlines for hard news as well as feature articles and news headlines for hard news.
What I Learned About Headlines Today
Headlines should be attention-grabbing and reflect the story accurately. Editors often derive them from the lead or key facts buried in the text. Different styles include the rocket headline, which starts like a lead, and the cross-line headline, which spans multiple columns but not the full page width.
~ANUSHA GARG
What I Learned from today's class:
From today's class I learnt that headlines shouldn’t always be written in bold . If everything is bold, nothing really stands out, and the other stories lose their impact. So, to keep the intensity, bold headlines should be used wisely.
We also talked about different types of headlines like : direct, indirect, news, benefit-driven, question-based, and attention-grabbing ones. It was fascinating to see how each type serves a different purpose.
Another big takeaway was that headlines should be simple and to the point and complicated words should be avoided. The goal is to make it easy for readers to understand without them needing to Google words. A good headline can make or break whether someone decides to read the article.
We also saw some examples, like "How to Lose Weight"(a "How-To" headline) and "Donald trumps Death" (an attention-grabbing one). These really helped me understand how different styles work.
It was a insightful class, and I feel like I have a better idea of how to write strong headlines now.
Tanisha Sharma (24/198)
Today's class was about headlines. The session started with definition of headline, then the functions of headlines were discussed, and I was a little aware about it, then types of headlines were discussed .I was surprised to know that there are more than 25 types of headlines, every headline having it's distinct features. Then I got know how to write a headline. The session was very informative, I also got to know that headline is written before the the news story.
A headline is a concise phrase that summarizes the article. It is one the mosf important components of a news story—it grabs attention, sparks curiosity, and compels readers to dive deeper. In just a few words, it must capture the essence of the news while being sharp, accurate, and engaging. A strong headline can make or break a story, influencing whether it goes viral or fades into obscurity.
Things that I didn't know before but was able to learn through this class was about the various types of headline which can be broadly classified into Direct and Indirect Headlines.
Different types of headlines include:
Question Headlines – Engage curiosity by posing a question
How-To Headlines– Offer solutions or guidance.
Command Headlines – Urge action
Pun/Wordplay Headlines- Use humor or clever phrasing
Moreover, I learned headlines should be written in a clear, concise manner which Is devoid of complex words so that it is accessible to all the reader.
In today class i have learned the headline function, definition and types. was surprised to know that there are more than 25 types of headlines, each with a different purpose .We also discussed various examples to understand how different headlines work.The session also covered rules for writing impactful headlines, which helped me understand how to make them clear, concise, and attention-grabbing. Overall, this class deepened my understanding of how headlines shape a reader’s first impression and convey the essence of a story.
Today, we explored different types of headlines, their significance, and their functions in journalism. I learnt that there goes a lot of thought behind each and every word that is printed or published. Each type of headline conveys a different message to the audience and a different type of news.
Before today’s class of REP under the guidance of Dr.Vartika Nanda, I thought headlines were just catchy phrases to grab attention. But I learned they are much more, like different types serve different purposes. For example, banner headlines scream urgency, while kicker headlines add a twist before the main title. I didn’t know about how-to headlines, which subtly promise solutions, or that question headlines engage readers by making them think. Another surprising fact that Some headlines are intentionally vague to spark curiosity, like intriguing headlines. It made me realize that a well-crafted headline isn’t just about words,it’s a strategy to shape perception and engagement. Overall a very interesting and informative class!
Through this class, I gained a deeper understanding of the different types of headlines and their significance in writing. I learned that different types of headlines are required for various kinds of articles to effectively capture the reader's attention and convey the essence of the content.
The types of headlines we explored included direct headlines, which are straightforward and to the point; indirect headlines, which create curiosity and intrigue; banner headlines, often used in newspapers and digital media to make bold statements; inverted pyramid headlines, which present the most important information first; how-to headlines, which provide step-by-step guidance; and brand name headlines, which incorporate well-known brands to attract interest.
Additionally, I gained valuable insights into the essential characteristics of a strong headline, such as clarity, conciseness, relevance, and engagement. I also learned about the crucial role headlines play in drawing readers in, setting the tone for an article, and ensuring effective communication in journalism, advertising, and digital media.
Flush left headline piqued my interest because it improves readability by aligning text consistently, making it easy to scan. It creates a modern look, ideal for print and digital media. This format also enhances visual appeal and is widely used in newspapers, magazines, and advertisements.
On April 3rd, we explored the topic of headlines in an insightful lecture that greatly enhanced my understanding. I learned about different types of headlines, many of which I was previously unaware of. The session included various examples that helped me relate to and differentiate between different headline styles. This approach made it easier for me to remember and apply them effectively in writing and analysis.
Headlines are the first thing we notice in news articles, ads, or social media posts. They grab our attention and give us a quick idea of what’s coming next. A good headline is short, clear, and sometimes a little dramatic or thought-provoking to make us want to read more. In the digital world, they also help with search rankings. Whether in print or online, a strong headline can make all the difference in getting people to engage.
I gained valuable insights into the art of headline writing. I learned about various headline types, including direct, indirect, banner, inverted pyramid, how-to, and brand name headlines. A good headline should be clear, concise, relevant, and engaging. It's crucial in grabbing attention, setting tone, and communicating effectively in journalism, advertising, and digital media.
A headline is defined as the heading of a news story or article. It is generally
placed on the top of the story, printed in large type and gives the news succinctly
in an attention-grabbing manner. The high-visibility characteristic of headlines lets
them influence the look and appeal of the newspaper as well as its identification
from a distance.
The presentation of a news story is dependent not only on writing its headline but also on its font, font size and the position on the page.
A good headline attracts attention, identifies its audience, conveys a complete message, and encourages reading. It should be clear, informative, and sometimes use humor or surprise to generate curiosity. Headline writing involves literary and technical aspects like font, size, and word choice. Headlines must fit allotted space, use appropriate weight and style, and convey the story’s news angle. Double-decker headlines adjust for space, while kerning refines text fit. Editors prioritize stories through font weight and style. Understanding the story fully ensures an accurate, engaging headline. Ambiguity, redundancy, and contradictions must be avoided. A third-party review enhances clarity and impact.
Headlines are categorized based on structure and purpose. Label headlines lack verbs and show neutrality. Descriptive headlines summarize the story, focusing on 4Ws and 1H. Comment headlines interpret news, adding context. Quotation headlines retain direct quotes for impact. Question headlines provoke curiosity but may leave readers guessing.
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