Interesting story on web and print headline writing by Kathy English, the Star's public editor (pictured). An excerpt:
"Names are key online because people search for people. The newspaper head, "The hardest working girl in country" could refer to just about anyone. Change that head to "At 63, Dolly Parton just won't slow down" as the Star's web editors did and those readers searching Google for the latest on Dolly Parton are far more likely to find the Star's story.
"Search engines don't really discern humour or puns so those memorable "zingers" that have long won accolades in newsrooms don't always cut it online. Thus, online editors would likely nix "I'm the pop, says the weasel" – the New York Post's headline when U.S. politician John Edwards admitted to fathering an illegitimate child."
Click on the title to read the full story.
No comments:
Post a Comment