The process and art of headlines
I find headlines interesting. I don’t know who writes those that appear above my articles, but they do a nice job. Perhaps for this column one of those that follow will be used, such as: “Jury to Try Shooting Suspect.”
There is a rationale as to why the newspaper industry is convinced the person who wrote the story should not also write the headline. The system seems to work, but what I find disappointing is that headline writers often depict an article as being something it is not. As an example, not long ago I read an out-of-state newspaper that contained a lengthy item regarding the proposal of a state representative who felt the never-ending influx of illegal aliens needed to be dealt with. Her measure included work permits, amnesty for some, but took a position distasteful to the headline writer—that our borders must be strictly controlled. The headline read “Lawmaker to Introduce Anti-Immigration Bill.”
The problem is not new, nor is it far removed. Way back in 1898 a certain local paper, which I will identify only as a friendly competitor from Villisca, carried a banner across the top of page one proclaiming “Spain Is Guilty!” The article, having to do with the sinking of the battleship Maine, did not say Spain was guilty. Rather, it listed several possibilities, of which an act by Spain was only one. To this day no one can say with certainty that Spain was to blame. Headline writers chose to do so anyway.
Some of their work is unintentionally amusing. A Detroit newspaper recently topped an article about women working in gas stations with this: “40% of Female Gas Station Employees are Women.”
At one time snow tires with metal studs were popular. I was among those who had them on my state car, and they worked quite well on snow and ice. They also wore out pavement, and a controversy developed. When a state official announced the tires were no longer permitted, a headline writer topped the story with this: “Stud Tires Out.”
On New Year’s Eve an intoxicated man rang in the new year by pointing his revolver skyward and blasting away, an act which caused several holes in the roof of an otherwise fine restaurant. Local authorities, after deliberation, filed criminal charges. The subsequent article carried this headline: “Court to Try Shooting Suspect.”
The following headline offered some good news: “Statistics Show Unwanted Teen Pregnancy Declines after Age 25.” The Tallahassee Democrat once led off an outdoors article with: “Governor Offers Rare Opportunity to Goose Hunters.” I liked this headline over a sports page item on a golfing granny: “Grandmother of Eight Makes Hole-in-One.”
While we’re on the subject, a lot of people who write want ads could use a proofreader. A trading post sponsored by an area radio station recently had this in their livestock category: “Black white-faced cows. Selling entire heard.” Another read: “Pony for Sale. Looks like small hoarse.” I once saw an employment ad that read: ”Over-the-road truckers wanted. Must have driving and criminal record.” Another was: “3-year-old teacher wanted for pre-school. Experience preferred.” This one struck a note: “Illiterate? Write today for free help.”
A sign posted in a Des Moines restaurant caused me to dine elsewhere: “The Secret Ingredient That Makes Our Food Special is Our People.” Yummy.
And finally, from the social page, we once noted a slight spelling error that no doubt embarrassed a dear lady: “Mrs. Peterson was in the hospital last week undergoing testes.”
Roy Marshall is a local historian and columnist for the Red Oak Express. He can be contacted at news@redoakexpress.com.