Download Writing Headlines and Captions: Tips and Guidelines and more Study notes History of Education in PDF only on Docsity! 2/18/2008 1 Headlines • Based on the main point of the story • Use “sell” words • Words that are stoppers or grabbers Headlines • Deck – Used to denote the number of lines in a headline. A two‐ deck head would have two lines. • Kicker Small secondary headline above the main head with– , supplementary information. • Subhead – below the headline. Sometimes is a full sentence. • Glossary of publishing terms: – http://post‐journal.com/nie/glossary.htm Tips on writing headlines • Short is usually better • Can work: rhymes, quotes, play on movie/music titles/lyrics • Sometime clever and simple is best • HOWEVER, don’t be cute, unless cute is called for. • Think about the art • Use a dictionary and the story for inspiration • Need a verb somewhere…. Tips on writing headlines • Use the active voice. • Use action verbs. • Use numbers. (Against AP Style) • Flush left • Single quote marks for direct quotes • Do not editorialize, exaggerate, generalize or use long words. • Keep it simple and direct. Tips on writing • “X‐rated” ☺ – Fill each line of the head within two units of the letter “x” in lower case. Headlines • VERY GOOD site to check: – http://web.ku.edu/~edit/heads.html • Other sites: h // kib l di d /2006/08/12– ttp: vasu e ava .wor press.com /how‐to‐write‐headlines/ – http://www.snn‐ rdr.ca/snn/nr_reporterstoolbox/writingheadlines. html 2/18/2008 2 Cutlines/captions • Many times the first thing that is read • Does more than describes the image • Should tell enough of the story that someone knows what the actual story is about just by reading the cutline. • Provides information that is necessary for the reader to understand the photograph. Cutlines/captions • Provides information on who is in the photograph, what is going on, where and when the action happened, and why the action is significant. • One to two sentences in length. • Good site: – http://www.notrain‐nogain.org/Train/Res/CopyD/cuts.asp Pull quote • Used as an entry point to entice a reader • A great quote placed in larger type • Usually decided by the copy editor • Breaks up the text • Facts box – Provides key points to a story – Dates, stats, additional info – Don’t be repetitive Pull quote • Choose appropriate snippets for pull‐quotes. – Use pull quotes not only to quote the text but also to use text that pulls the reader into the text. – Select dramatic, thought‐provoking, or enticing excerpts to use as pull‐ quotes. • Keep pull quotes brief and to the point ‐ . – Make the pull quote a quick bite of information, a teaser. – Don't give away too much of the story in the pull‐quote. Include only a single thought or theme in each pull quote. Pull quote • Keep pull quotes visually short (about 5 lines or less). • Make pull quotes stand apart from accompanying text. – Set the pull quote apart by using a different typeface, setting it off by rules or in a shaded box. Try using oversized quotation marks or aligning it to the right or having it cross two columns of text. • Do not place the pull quote too close to the text quoted. • Be consistent in the style used for pull quotes. – Use the same fonts, font size, graphic elements, and color for all pull quotes in an article. Pull quote • Keep pull quotes away from competing design elements. – Don't place a pull quote too close to the bottom of the page or where it will compete with headlines, subheadings, or other graphics on the page. • Keep adequate space between pull quotes and adjoining text.