Media headlines are, when done properly (and no, I don't really try to do them properly...sometimes I put in something I think is funny, sometimes something I just think is relevant, and sometimes there is little to no relation between my headlines and the content) designed to grab the reader's attention, try to interest them in the story and get them to read the story. The clever headline writer will even often try to work in a double-entendre or pun based on the article content.
Sadly, there is one thing headline writers do that really drives me nuts. Not that the too clever headlines don't...but I can tolerate them. No, the headlines that drive me nuts are the ones written by Captain Obvious and the Banalities.
For example, he wants to write an appropriate headline but is not sure how to approach the subject. He shoots from the hip, taking a stab at writing an appropriate headline...and comes up with a gem like this.
"Attack on Family Shocks Texas Community"
See what I mean? There is no surprise left, no reason to read the story. Now, if the headline said "Texas Family shot and stabbed by malicious daughter and boyfriend" then you might read the story and still have room for wonder:
"What was the community reaction? Were they expecting it? Were they unsurprised?" Because, you know, so frequently these things are not shocking at all, they are totally expected just like they were that one time when...I mean, in that one place where...I mean, when the warning signs were seen to...I mean...okay, so as of this writing, there has yet to be an attack/killing/murder/shooting/shooting spree/stabbing spree that did NOT shock/surprise/upset the community.
So why is it newsworthy...HEADLINE NEWS worthy that the people were "shocked"? When are we going to get the headline and/or news story where "The highly anticipated killing spree of Mr. X finally came to fruition. Eyewitnesses are quoted as saying, "Yeah, we have been expecting this for a while. We actually thought he was going to start this last week but I guess it got delayed." THEN it would be a news story.
Oh, and now that you know what the story was about, this might be a good time to review the sentence I wrote just before I linked to the article. Still not funny...but at least I am laughing.
4 years ago
1 comment:
Don't get me started on the shithead bottomfeeders of this world that are otherwise known as copy editors. They write the headlines, but don't usually seem to read the stories first - although this guy at least did that much.
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