Types Of Headlines | Synonym (2024)

Types Of Headlines | Synonym (1)

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Different types of headlines are used in journalism; the specific type used is based on the structure of the news story. Print media is geared toward informing the public on various topics. An important aspect in getting and holding the attention of the public is through the use of attractive headlines, no longer than one, two or in some cases three lines. Headlines should summarize in a few striking words the news story featured under it. The point is to get the attention of the reader and draw him into the story.

1 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.

2 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 front page of the newspaper on extremely important stories; they are not used frequently, but when they are used, they have significant impact.

3 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, giving the reader the most important points quickly.

4 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 most often more columns in width. It can run flush on both sides of the paper or it can have the words centered 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.

About the Author

Devon Willis started writing in 2002. He has worked for publication houses like Edward Elgar Publishing and Nelson Thornes in Gloucestershire, England. He has a B.A. in journalism and a M.A. in mass communication from the University of Gloucestershire and London Metropolitan University, respectively.

Types Of Headlines | Synonym (2024)

FAQs

What are the three types of headlines? ›

19 types of headlines
  • Direct headline. A direct headline clearly states the purpose of an article. ...
  • Indirect headline. An indirect headline takes a subtle approach by hinting at the main point of an article. ...
  • News headlines. ...
  • How-to headline. ...
  • Question headline. ...
  • Command headline. ...
  • The "reason why" headline. ...
  • Emotional headline.
Dec 28, 2022

What is a powerful headline? ›

It must attract interest from the target audience, give potential readers a sense of the article, and demonstrate the brand voice. It may hint at the purpose or context of the article. The language needs to be intriguing, grab attention, and not to mention be accurate.

How do you classify news headlines? ›

The news is full of our life. Therefore, news headlines classification is a crucial task to connect users with the right news. The news headline classification is a kind of text classification, which can be generally divided into three mainly parts: feature extraction, classifier selection, and evaluations.

What is a traditional headline? ›

A standard headline: uses subject-verb-direct object format, or occasionally passive voice. Think action verb. eliminates articles (a, an, the). includes verbs in the present tense (or sometimes future tense).

How many types of headlines are there? ›

Understanding the different types of headlines can help an organization identify the right one and create better ads. In this blog post, we'll define an ad headline, provide you with a list of 20 headline types you might employ to engage your audience, and show you how you can create great copy with headline testing.

What is a professional headline? ›

What's a professional headline? The professional headline is the title that appears next to your name when clients see your proposals or search for talent. It should use attention-grabbing words that highlight your main skills.

What are news headlines? ›

A headline is the title of a newspaper story, printed in large letters at the top of the story, especially on the front page.

What is an ideal headline? ›

The job of the headline is to indicate the benefit and to make a promise to the visitor that it's worth it. And to do it in less than a second. The more specific the benefit, the more likely the visitor is to click. Great headlines make specific promises. Ask yourself as if you're the reader.

What is a headline that grabs people's attention? ›

Include the 'How, What, Why, When and Where' of news. Be fewer than 10 words long. Not be stuffed full of hyperbole and exaggeration (journalists loathe this) Not be in the style of a blog headline, i.e 'How to Study for the LSAT'.

What is an attention grabbing headline? ›

A great headline is like a first impression—it sets the tone for what's to come and can make all the difference in capturing your audience's attention. Keep it short, simple, clear and concise, and use active verbs and powerful language. And don't forget to inject personality and humor! -

How do you write an irresistible headline? ›

8 tips on writing marketing headlines that convert
  1. Use active voice instead of passive. Sometimes, it's not what you say but how you say it. ...
  2. Be concise. The best headlines are short, sweet, and to the point. ...
  3. Make sense. ...
  4. Spark curiosity. ...
  5. Use numbers. ...
  6. Include a reason to read. ...
  7. Write for your reader. ...
  8. Include power words.
Aug 24, 2023

How do you write an exciting headline? ›

How to Write a Headline That Will Make People Click
  1. Keep it short and to the point. Effective headlines are a crucial element of captivating readers' attention. ...
  2. Use strong verbs. ...
  3. Use numbers. ...
  4. Ask a question. ...
  5. Use power words. ...
  6. Be specific. ...
  7. Use keywords.
Aug 6, 2023

How do you write a gripping headline? ›

Create a Feeling of Urgency

Urgency can be a potent way to grab the reader's attention and encourage engagement. People who need to act fast are more likely to be interested in your content. Use words like “now”, “today” or “immediately” in your headlines to create a sense of urgency.

What are the three important rules of headline writing? ›

Headline Writing Guidelines
  • Summarize in one line.
  • MUST include a specific subject and an active verb.
  • Show how this particular story differs from others.
Nov 4, 2022

What are the main and secondary headlines? ›

In a main/secondary headline, the main headline is used to grab the reader's attention. It is not nec- essary, although it is possible, to have a verb in the main headline when you have a secondary headline. The secondary headline clarifies, amplifies or emphasizes a significant aspect of the story.

What are direct and indirect headlines? ›

A direct headline clearly states what the business is offering to give away (with the ultimate goal of selling goods and/or services. Indirect headlines are much more subtle than direct headlines. Indirect headlines pique the curiosity of the reader just enough to make them want to read more.

What are the three parts of a news article? ›

News Story Structure. Broadcast news story has three parts: begins with LEAD, the attention getting device; followed by the BODY of the story and concludes with some WRAP-UP or summary.

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