Navigating the News: Headlines

We see them everywhere. Which ones are trustworthy?

A headline is the first thing you see in a news article. They are the biggest words on the page and naturally, are meant to draw your attention the most. But what makes a headline, a headline? You may have noticed the grammar in a headline looks unconventional, or that they’re never more than a couple lines.

Most importantly, headlines are written to peak your interest quickly enough to make you want to read the rest of the story. Every news station and newspaper’s goal is to get you to read their story and not their competitors – the first step to that is a good headline. So what should you be looking for in a ‘good’ or well-written headline?

1. Good headlines are short. The best headlines will give you the most information in the fewest number of words – more info with fewer words is a common theme in journalism. Headlines generally hover around 6-12 words and anything longer than that tends to lose the viewers attention.

2. Headlines should tell you as much of the 5Ws of journalism as possible – who, what, when, where, and why? Headlines like, “Man speeding swerves into ditch, hits pole near capitol,” are much more informative than “Driver hits pole.” Headlines similar to the first example should also guide the reader to want to read the rest of the story while describing what’s unique about the one they’re clicking on.

3. There are no articles or conjunctions. This goes along with the theme of being as clear and concise as possible. Omitting unnecessary words like ‘a,’ ‘an,’ or ‘and’ helps save space on print and time when reading – another nod to grabbing your attention as quickly as possible.

Generally, headlines are also always written in present tense.

It’s important to keep in mind that while headlines are meant to grab your attention, they shouldn’t sensationalize or feel ‘clickbait-ey.’ Knowing these key points may help point you in the right direction when it comes to trustworthy headlines.

Remember to always check your sources and stay ahead of the headlines!

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