COPY – Day 12writing headlines #2

headline writing Copy

ASSIGNMENT:ASSIGNMENT:

Write 5 TEASERS for a spread about a celebrationof Mole Day (6.02 x 1023). (This is the dominant photo.)

ASSIGNMENT:ASSIGNMENT:

headline writing Copy

headline writing Copy

•captures & keeps readers with clever diction & clear details

•reflects the dominant photo’s content

VERBAL

VISUAL•(an entry point)•uses type creatively

HEADLINESHEADLINES

headline writing Copy

• Identify content

•Tell something specific about the season, event, etc.

•Capture the readers’attention

HEADLINESHEADLINES

headline writing CopyHEADLINE ANATOMYHEADLINE ANATOMY

Primary headline – the Teaser

• Intrigues the reader visually and/or verbally

(larger than anything else on the spread.)

• Provides information specific to the year & identifies the spread’s focus (subject and verb are needed.) This is smaller then the primary head.

Secondary headline – the Teller

headline writing Copy

secondary headlineTELLER

Homecoming

Reign DelayGame, field coronation cometo a thundering halt

label

primary headline TEASER

• Identify content?

• Captures the readers’attention?

HEADLINE ANATOMYHEADLINE ANATOMY

• Tells something specific about the event?

Quote for a secondary

When the first notes of the fight song were punctuated by a

crash of thunder, the marching band retreated for cover

under the stands. A record 1.9 inches of rain fell in less

than an hour. “ We use the 30-30 Rule to insure the safety

of the students and fans,” athletic director Kevin Brewster

said. “When the flash to thunder count approaches 30

seconds, everyone is undercover.”

“At first, I enjoyed the light show,but when I realized that

the storm would probably cancel the game & the half-time ceremony,

I was depressed.” -junior Jonah Martin

ReignDelay

This example uses the first paragraph to

summarize the event. It is set in larger type

than the copy.

headline writing Copy

Homecoming fans experience

Wet, Wild Washout

Thunder, lightning cause Homecoming

BASHtoCRASH

Get a Reign CheckHomecoming ceremony washes out

Lightning stormdestroys HomecomingRealReignWreck

TELLERSTELLERS

headline writing CopyEXAMPLESEXAMPLES

headline writing CopyEXAMPLESEXAMPLES

headline writing Copy

Refine headlines for strong

appeal• Keep headlines factual; no editorializing

• Use fresh, active verbs• Eliminate unnecessary words• Use a comma instead of “and”• Don’t break “grammatical go-togethers”

• Use single quote marks in headlines• Write headlines in present tense• Avoid school name, initials, mascot• Maintain style consistency

EDITING GUIDELINESEDITING GUIDELINES