Copy Reading & Headline Writing

2. *The art of arranging, correcting, and
selecting the quality and type of news
that are within acceptable journalistic
standards in terms of style and editorial
policy.
*Specialist in this field is called a
copyreader/copyeditor

3. *Copyreading gives the article the final
touch before it goes to the printer.
*Copyreading, editing, correcting the article
are synonymous terms.
*The copyreader goes over the article,
makes all the necessary corrections

4. *He also does away with libelous statements
which harm the reputation of the persons
or subjects mentioned in the article and which
may put the editorial staff in hot water.
*The copyreader also writes the headline
and determines the typography for it.
*He reads the article very carefully looking
out for errors in grammar and spelling,
errors in fact and in style.

5. ♦ edits errors on grammar (spelling,
tenses,etc.)
♦ edits errors of fact (accuracy check)
♦ judges news value
(grading of news)
♦ edits verbose copy
(keeps the copy tight)
♦ writes the headline

6. ♥ Must possess certain qualities not
everybody
in the staff may have.
♥ Must have a good command of the
language.
♥ Must have at his fingertips a good working
knowledge of the rules of grammar.

7. ♥ Must have a wide vocabulary.
♥ Must be well-read and
must have a storage of
general and current
information.
♥ Must be well aware of
libel news.

8. ♦ connect letters ( cea se fire won’t be an issue )
♦ transpose letters ( time si glod)
♦ transpose words (if you happen know to the
rules)
♦ delete letters/words
(to prevent the plounder / reached a final
conclusion)

9. ♦ spell out (nos,) ( 10 human rights victims)
♦ spell out (words) (VP Noli de Castro)
♦ abbreviate (nos.) ( one-hundred per cent of the
respondents)
♦ abbreviate (words) (President Barack Obama)
♦ insert letters/words
( the trimph of Pcquiao dela Hoya)

10. ♦ separate words theissue on CharterChange
♦ capitalize letters gen. jovito Palparan
♦ make letter lowercase Two solons
♦ period mark The seamen were freed
♦ restore The kidnap victim was released)
♦ insert space andthey live happily everafter)
♦ bold face the pauper
♦ paragraph Villar called for an
entrepreneurial revolution
♦ do not paragraph Villar called for an
entrepreneurial revolution.

11. ♣ Whenever the copyreader sits down to work, he
has the intention of making the copy free of errors.
♣ It is the goal of copyreader, therefore, to do his
work systematically and efficiently.
♣ It would be good to follow the following
steps.
1. Read the whole article first
to determine what kind of story
it is.

12. 2. Having determined the type of story, read the
article again.
3. This time, determine which is the lead
paragraph.
4. Read the story again and mark all paragraph
beginnings. Then correct errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuations
and style using copyreading
symbols.

13. 5. Improve the organization of the story. Make
sure the lead features the lead fact.
6. Go over the whole story again. Remove all
unnecessary and irrelevant materials.
7. Check the length of the
story, then prepare the
clean copy.

14. 8. Write a very catchy and fitting head-
line for the story.
9. Give the printer’s mark for the
body text and the headline.
Encircle the slug line.
10. The article is now ready
for printing.

15. ☺An assemblage of
words written in bigger,
bolder letters than the
usual page text at the
beginning of the news,
also known as the head,
but not a title.

16. The word “headline” is understood
by many people to mean the biggest
story of the day. In journalism,
however, “headline” is the
title of a news story big
or small.

17. There’s no doubt headlines are one of
the most important things to get right,
unfortunately they can also be the
most problematic too.
A good headline grabs the readers
attention, and compels them
to read on.

18. A well-written story will
go unread if the
headline does not grab
the reader. Headlines
also serve as a graphic
element on the page.

19. Good headlines capture the
readers’ attention and make them
want to explore the story.
Bad headlines confuse readers,
turn them off, invite criticism,
invoke laughter (for the wrong
reasons), or are just moronic.

20. ♦ news headline – deals with hard facts and
summary
Ex.: Business leaders tackle global crisis
♦ feature headline – deals with novelty,
human interest element
Ex.: The sea is on red alert! (pertains to red
tide menace)

21. As title of the news, the headline serves
the following purposes:
1. It gives the summary of the news.
2. It allows the hurried reader to get a
quick glimpse of the news. Later in the
day, when he has the time, he
will read the story in its
entirety.

22. 3. It indicates relative importance of the
story by the amount of display and
thus helps the reader evaluate the
significance of the news.
4. It contributes to the
physical attractiveness
of the paper.
As title of the news, the headline
serves the following purposes:

23. • to attract readers (come-on element of
headline)
• to tell the story (in a gist/summary)
• to add variety of type (break the monotony
of sea of type)
• to identify personality of newspaper (use of
font/style of letters)
• to index/grade the news (big type for
important news than less important)

24. 1. The headline presents the news in
capsule, thus it is telegraphic.
2. It must contain the most important, the
most intriguing, the most unusual fact
of the story. It is not the place for
details.

25. 3. It must be constructed as to catch the
reader’s attention and make him read
the story.
4. Size and length of the headline must be
proportional to the length of the story
and its importance.
5. The headline is based on the
lead.

26. 6. The headline makes use of special
vocabulary which is not suitable for
ordinary communication situations.
For example: the word “stude” is
headline equivalent for “student” as in
“Four studes win in quiz bee” However,
it is not acceptable to say there are
2,000 studes in our school.

27. 1. The headline must have a verb and
it must be in the present tense.
Wrong: Cuadra topped editorial tilt
Correct: Cuadra tops editorial tilt
2. Do not use period.

28. 3. Minimize punctuation marks. Use
single quotation marks. Use a comma in
place of “and” and a semicolon to
separate sentences.
Wrong:Rolling stores to sell rice and
groceries
Correct: Rolling stores to sell rice,
groceries

29. 4. Don’t use the articles- a, an, the
Wrong: A fire hits the squatters’
Correct: Fire hits squatters’ area
5. Don’t use names unless the person is
well-known.
Wrong: Simon electrocuted
Correct: Electrician electrocuted

30. 6. Use the infinitive for future events.
Wrong: City Hall will push anti-squatting drive
Correct: City Hall to push anti-squatting drive
7. Use specific terms instead of generalities
Wrong: School official gets scholarship
Correct: Principal gets US scholarship

31. 1. always in active voice / use action word
2. use the present tense, historical present
and future tense
3. Prioritize use of subject / direct object
4. Must not hang prepositions
5. Never repeat words
6. Use familiar abbreviations only
7. No typographical errors/ grammar
errors

32. 8. Reflect the tone of the story
9. Avoid labels / titles
10. Do not editorialize
11. Do not use negative construction
except when necessary

33. • fit into space
• must know the fonazt size of letters
• must know the head unit count
• must know the number
of decks (layers of headline)
• must know the number
of columns (one, two,
three, four etc.)

34. Exercise 1: Write the correct form of the verb in the
following headlines. Observe agreement
between subject and the verb.
• CA (deny) Leviste’s petition for bail
• World pirate attacks (soar) in first quarter
• Noli (hail) Syria as RP ‘strategic partner
• Shell, Petron (raise) gas prices
• SC (uphold) oil deregulation law
• DSWD (launch) ‘war’ vs child abuse
• Local bets (win) in science fair

35. • Fishermen (stage) Earth Day protest
• Rotary Club (donate) computers
• COMELEC (proclaim) 32 party list bets
• Failon (appeal) for privacy
• Cuadra (cop) 3 National awards
• Researcher (receive) US grant
• Local cadets (spearhead) projects
• RP, Spain (ink) accord
Cont… >>> Write the correct form of the verb in the
following headlines. Observe agreement
between subject and the verb.

36. ♦ Feeding program (launch)
♦ Two jail guards caught gambling (fire)
♦ Resto owner (sue)
♦ Governor (probe) for P72M deficit
♦ Jueteng protectors in CL (identify)
♦ Scout master (kill) in camp site
♦ Shanties in Quiapo (demolish)
♦ Absentees (warn) of expulsion
♦ Parents of honor studes (cite)
♦ 4 holduppers (arrest) in Tondo
Exercise 2: Write the correct form of the verb in
the passive voice:

39. (wordy & weak) (better/briefer)
• for the reason that ------------ because
• a large proportion ------------ many
• at the present time ------------ now
• succumbed to injuries-------- died
• at an early date----------------- soon
• is of the opinion that ---------- believes
• in the neighborhood of ------- near

40. (wordy & weak) (better/briefer)
• in the event of -------------------in case
• in spite of the fact ---------------although
• draw attention of --------------remind
• tendered his resignation ------resigned
• affixed his signature ---------- signed
• united in holy matrimony-----married
• held a conference ---------------met
• told his listeners ----------------said

41. Access ………….....…
Accompanied by ……
Acute emergency……
Additionally …………
Adequate enough…...
Administrative assistant ...
Advance planning ….
Advance reservations ..
Affiliated with …….…….
Obtain
With
Emergency
In addition
Adequate
Secretary/clerk
Planning
Reservations
With

42. • After careful consideration …..
• Aggravated/non consensual/
forcible rape ………...
• Alcoholic liquor ………………
• And or ……………………….
• Answered in the negative ……
• At 4 a.m. this morning ………
After
considering
Rape
Liquor
Or
Said no
4 a.m.

43. At 5 p.m. last night …….. 5 p.m.
At an early date …………Soon
At that time ……………… Then
As in the case of ………..Like
At the intersection of market and the
main ….
…At market and main streets

44. At this point in time ……… Now
At which time …………….. When /During
Attempted hold up ……….. Hold up
Authored ………………….. Wrote
Avenues to explore ……….. Ways
Avid readers/sports fan ….. Readers
Be cognizant of …………… Know
Be in receipt of …………… Get
Bitter quarrel …………….. Quarrel

45. Conceptualize ……………… Think
Concept …………………… Idea
By virtue of the fact that …... Because
During the period from ……. From
Has the capability of ………. Can
He is the man who ………….. He
In the final analysis ………… Finally

46. Brutal slaying ……………… Murder
By the same token ………….. Equally
By virtue of the fact ………… Because
Call for ………………………. Propose /Urge /ask
Called her attention to the fact that
……… Reminded
Close proximity ……………. Near
Come in contact with ………. Meet

47. Counterproductive ……… Futile
Currently ………………… Now
Deplaned …………………. Left
Despite the fact that ……... Although
Downsizing ………………. Layoffs
End result …………………result
Exact replica …………….. Replica
Featured speaker ………… Speaker

48. Economically disadvantaged …. Poor
Feedback ………………………..Response
For the purpose of ……………. For / to
Foreseeable future ……………. Future
General consensus ……………. Consensus
In case of ……………………… If
In close proximity ……………. Near
In excess of ……………………. More than

49. In regard to ………………… About
In the event that ……………. If
Innovative …………………… New
Is of the opinion ……………... Believes
Make inquiry regarding ……. Inquiry
Make mention of …………… Mention
Near future …………………. Future
Oral conversations …………. Talks

50. Prioritize ……………………….Rank
Produce an inhibitory
effect on ………….. Inhibit
Ramification ………………….. Results
Razed to the ground ………….. Razed
Reach a truce ………………… Agree
Repeat again ………………….. Repeat
Rose to his feet ………………... Rose

51. Serves the function of being ... Is
State of the art ……………….New / Modern
Student body ………………... Student
Subsequent to ……………….. After
Sufficient number ……………Enough
Terminated ………………….. Fired
time frame …………………… Schedule
Track record ………………… Record

52. Track record ……………….. Record
Transpire n………………….. Happen
True facts …………………… Facts
Unconfirmed rumor ………... Rumor
Visual observation …………. See / saw
Voted unanimously …………. Passed
Were as follows …………….. Were
Would be killer …………….. Suspect

53. congressman ………...solon
decrease ……………. dip
examination …………quiz
announce …………….bare
highlight ……………..cap
speak …………………urge
conference …………...confab
investigation …………probe
investigator …………..prober
disapprove ……………buck, scrap

54. • dismiss …….quash • dispute …….... row
• charge ………rap • strengthen…... beef up
• agreement …. Accord • practice ………hone up
• sign ………….ink • praise …………laud
• question …….grill • year……….milestone
• urge …………prod • delay …………snag
• mad killer …..amok • identify ……….finger
• capture ……...net • start …………..trigger
• disregard ……rule out • end …………...wind up

55. • lessen-----------allay
• approval --------nod
• arrest -----------nab
• student ---------student
• writer -----------scribe
• government ----govt
• councilor --------dad

56. j i l t f --------½ unit J I L T F ----------1
? --------------1 unit space ------------- 1
all figures ---1 unit all small letters-- 1
dash (-) -----1½ small m & w -- 1½
M & W -----------2
all caps except MWJ I LT F--1½

57. 42 points - 3 cols. – (21) max. count
____________________________
____________________________ (no. of decks)
Race Bias in Schools -20 unit counts
Described as Stupid -19.5 unit counts

58. ☺drop-line (like a staircase)
XXXXXXXXXX
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☺hanging indention (top line flush at right)
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☺inverted pyramid (from wide to narrow)
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XXXX

59. ☺flush-left (begin at left hand corner)
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
☺block (flush left and right, from margin to margin)
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
☺cross-line (one-line headline)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

60. ___________________________________
Two people died and five others were hurt
when an unidentified man lobbed a
fragmentation grenade along Baguio City’s
Leonard Wood Road shortly before dawn
Tuesday, a police official said.

61. A fire of unknown origin gutted the
multipurpose building during the semestral
break. The 5-year old two-room building
housed the library and the six units of
computer. The fire which occurred at high
noon was construed to be caused by electrical
wirings.
THE APPROPRIATE HEADLINE:
Fire razes down school bldg
Books, computers turn to ashes

62. Lead:
Staffers of the schoolpapers “The Leaf”
and the “Ang Dahon” underwent a 2-day
rigid training in journalistic writing as a
preparation for their participation in the
Division Press Conference.
Appropriate headline:
Staffers undergo training
in school’s prescon

63. ___________________________
The Philippine government will
repatriate some Filipinos who were
affected by the earthquake in Italy early
this month, according to Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration chief
Carmelita Dimzon.

64. __________________________________
Whoever becomes the next president of the
country will face a bigger economic burden.
Former budget secretary Benjamin Diokno
yesterday warned that the next president will
be inheriting from the Arroyo administration
a weaker economy and higher
unemployment.

65. __________________________________
MANILA, Philippines – A downpour at
around noon on Wednesday caused floods
ranging from thigh- to gutter-deep in several
areas across Metro Manila, the Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
reported.

66. ____________________________
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines
and Spain signed three agreements on
assistance for health reform efforts in
the Bicol and Caraga regions.

67. Pulchritude
possesses profundity
of a merely
cutaneous nature.
FOR FUN!
TRANSLATE:

68. Lack of propinquity
causes an effulgence of
partiality in the cardiac
area.
FOR FUN!
TRANSLATE:

69. It is fruitless to become
lachrymose over
precipitately departed
lacteal fluid.
FOR FUN!
TRANSLATE

70. END
UP NEXT:
MONDAY- Session 1 Editorial Cartooning
Session 2 Newswriting