Headlines

Another one of this week's assignments is looking at headlines, how effective they are, do they pull the reader in, do they convey a sense of the story. Below are five headlines that I do not like:

Beach limers do it on sand

While concise and snappy, this headline, taken from the Trinidad Express, really does not tell me what the story is about. What's the "it" that beach limers are doing? And if you are a foreigner reading this online, you would be even more confused by the word limers and probably move on...unless your dirty mind is intrigued by the thought of people "doing it on sand".


Throngs at rivers

Again from the Express, this headline does not work for me. To me it's lacking and reeks of laziness like the sub-editor was tired and didn't know what to write. A snappier version could have been Rivers rule this Easter or something like that.


Primary Ideas

This headline, taken from the Barbados Nation, just does not work for me. The story is about primary school students coming out on top at a science competition, but you would never guess that from this headline. It does not tell you anything about the story nor it is catching.


Site Suspended After Promoting Dutch Lawmaker’s Anti-Qur’an Movie

This efluxmedia headline is too long for me. I have seen other headlines on the story that are shorter, snappier and less clumsy.


It will take more than one great speech for Obama to reassure some Democrats

This is the headline from a letter to the editor in the International Herald Tribune but to me it is way too long and unwieldy. I don't know if a double stacked headline works on the web, it's an assault to the eyes for me.


Headlines I like:

Pirates of the Caribbean? Antigua Firm Cracks Blu-ray DRM

This is a techie story but the headline, the play on the movie and what the Caribbean developers have done certainly works for me. It got my attention.


Jericho Nuked by CBS

I love my entertainment news and this headline from E! online is so clever. It's a play on Jericho, the biblical city being destroyed, used to describe what CBS did to the television series based on that historical place. LOL.. I love it!

'Mother' gooses up Britney's comeback

This USA Today headline immediately pulled me in. It's a play on the words Mother Goose and is very cleverly used to describe Britney Spear's efforts on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Clever not tacky.


Snow and sleet mark beginning of spring

This Guardian headline is simple, straight to the point and effective.


'He made love to the audience'

This Guardian article, in memory of British actor Paul Scofield sets the tone for what the article would be about. In one sentence it encapsulates the talent of the man.


Off to meet Santa

This headline from Richard Quest's blog on CNN"s Business Traveller is simple but got to me cause going to Lapland to meet Santa has always been my dream. The headline promises a story full of adventure and interesting tidbits.


Pawn Shops: Business Is Booming

This headline from the Huffington Post caught my eye. I have been following the economic meltdown in the US and this headline, which gives a human interest face to the meltdown, is interesting.