The tabloid approach
Wichita State University
One of the most difficult parts of teaching editing is to teach students how to write good headlines.
Since we’re an integrated program, I also get integrated marketing types (advertising and PR), besides print people. Writing good headlines is a vital part of creating effective print ads, so I spend a good deal of time on headlines.
Students usually struggle because good headline writing is an art. What I’ve found is that using tabloid-type stories from the supermarkets really perks them up. It helps them get creative, yet teaches them the principles of good headline writing.
They love to out-do the tabloid head writers.