This document provides guidance on copy reading and headline writing for newspaper articles. It discusses what a copy is and the role of the copy reader in editing stories for errors, style, and content. The copy reader ensures factual accuracy, correct grammar and punctuation, and removes biased statements. Key aspects of writing headlines are also covered, such as different headline structures, the use of quotes and questions, and following best practices like using active verbs and omitting unnecessary words. The goal is to concisely summarize the key points of the story in the headline to attract readers.

1. Copy Reading
Copy reading
Headline Writing
By TIRZO B. ZAPATA, JR.
Abra State Institute of Sciences and
Technology, Main Campus

2. Copy reading

3. What is a COPY?
 A copy is a material sent to
the typist to be typeset.
 It may be a news story, a
feature article, an
editorial, or a literary
piece, etc.

4. THE COPY READER
 Butcher / mutilator
 Known as the most cruel staff member
 He creates more enemies then friends among the
reporters/ writers.
“Editing is the same as quarreling with writers -- same thing exactly.”
Harold Wallace Ross
 The copy reader is a newspaper man who has no
heart and imagination.
 He is a newspaper man who occupies a seat on
the news desk.
 The copy reader goes over the story and makes the
necessary corrections and revisions in the copy to
improve it.

5. What to copy read?
1. Errors in facts
2. Errors in grammar
3. Mechanics
3. Errors in structure and style
4. Libelous and derogatory statements
 Supported with concrete evidences
 Punctuation
 Capitalization
 S-V agreement
 Tenses
 Spelling
 Diction

6. 6. Seditious / rebellious statements
7. Opinionating / editorializing statements
 The most knowledgeable head of state,
President Duterte, urges charter change.
 The event was held in the spacious ASIST
gymnasium..
 She is the most brilliant mentor the
class ever had.

7. 8. Deadwoods and wasteful words
Deadwoods / Redundant words -
duplicate words in the sentence
1. The board is currently having a conference
at the moment.
2. The store opens its doors at 8 AM in the morning.
3. Sen. Enrile wrote a biography of his life five
years ago.
4. The Malaylay Pottery Association holds an
annual seminar in the Sitio of Malaylay.
5. Tita Helen promised to give me a free gift when
she comes home in the month of December.

8.  Wasteful words - expression that uses more words than
necessary
1. She was absent yesterday for the reason that she suffered
from influenza .
2. A larger proportion of the students voted for him.
3. The class is in the AVR at the present time.
4. Many of the Filipinos who have not attended school are not
aware of their rights.
5. She came ahead of the scheduled time to make sure that
everything was in order before the session.
because
Most / Majority
now
uneducated
early

9. 10. Technical terms, slang, jargons
 Use simple and familiar words in writing so that the
readers can easily understand what the writer tries to
say.
Slang
wanna
gonna
tap
cab
Technical
felacio
status quo
borgoise

10.  The conflagration spread through the houses and killed
over 20 residents and damaged 1.3M worth of properties.
 Elizabeth Candy was an eloquent writer and speaker
 Vandals were accused of wanton destruction of the
school property.
 The editor-in-chief mentors the novice writers.
 The two exchanged furtive smiles.
conflagration - fire
eloquent - fluent
wanton - unruly
novice - beginner
furtive - secret

11. Qualities of a Good Copyreader:
1. Pioneer writer
2. Empathy
What is it they want? What do they need?
3. Self-confidence.
Don’t be ruled by the readers; it’s your job to know
what they need and deliver it to them.

12. 4. Fearless
5. Stamina
- both physical and intellectual stamina.
- if you take it seriously, then you’re probably
working a lot of overtime
6. Know sensational copy when you see it
somebody delivers something truly kick-ass, it’s your
job to recognize it and make sure everyone else does, too.

13. 7. Smart staff
Top-notch editors know what they don’t know, and
they’re not afraid to admit it. That’s why they surround
themselves with people who can fill the gaps in their own
knowledge.
8. Friends with Mr. Webster
9. Be a mentor
Editors are teachers as well as journalists. They
develop a staff of sharp writers, independent thinkers and
risk takers

14. Common Symbols
used in Copy reading

15. • n
transpose
new paragraph

16. upper case
lower case

17. no paragraph
insert space

18. Break through – close up
insert comma
insert period

19. insert double quotation
marks
insert semi-colon
insert word

20. delete word
delete letter

21. abbreviate
write in numeral
spell out /
write in word

22. Write more at the bottom of
the copy if there is a
continuation.
- end of the copy
- end of he copy

23. Writing the Headline

24. HEADLINE
 HEADLINE is the title of every story.
 The HEADLINE in printed type is much bigger and
bolder than its body which is the story itself.
 The HEADLINE of the number one story on the first
page is called a BANNER HEADLINE. If it runs
across the page, it may also be called a STREAMER.
 It capsulizes the story.
 It summarizes the lead.

25. Structure of Headlines
1. Flush left – both lines are flushed to the left margi
2. Dropline / Step form – first line flushed left while
the second is indented
3. Inverted pyramid
Family planning
Seminar held
Local boy scouts
bleed for a cause
School launches
kalinissan
drive

26. 4. Hanging indention – flushed line is followed by two
indented parallel lines
5. Crossline / barline – one-line headline that runs
across the column
Chief editor
bats for more
development news
Expanded dependents dental plan nears implementation

27. 6. Boxed headline - for emphasis or art
Full box
Half box
Quarter box
Community involvement
Science camp team
Campus papers catalysts
For national development
Local students, teachers
Bleed for a cause today

28. 7. Jump story headline – this may be the same as the
original headline or it may just be a word or a phrase
followed by a series of dots
Local students …
( From page 2)

29. Types of headlines :
1. Straight headlines
They simply relate the main topic of the story. They are
the most common types of headlines and are the easiest to
understand.
Duterte urges ChaCha

30. 2. Headlines that ask
Most question headlines are not really typical
questions at all. They are statements followed by a
question mark. These question marks are used when:
o The headline reports a future possibility
Example:
o There is some doubt about the truth or accuracy of
the story.
Example:
Are hotels in shape for games?
Hidden Treasures In Your safe-Deposit Box?
Marcos - Aquino reconciliation?

31. 3. Headlines that contain a quotation
A quoted speech is used in headlines.
It’s another way to begin a story with an unproven
statement.
Example:
Quotation marks are used also to show a word is being
used outside its normal meaning.
Example:
Mounties shot in Arctic ‘had no enemies at all’
Microsoft divulges e-mail adds unless patrons
‘opt out’

32. 4. Feature headlines
Headlines for some unusual or amusing stories don’t give
a complete meaning. It’s often necessary to read the story
to understand the headline.
Example:
5. Double headlines
They are two-part headlines of the same story. They are
often used for major events.
Example:
Two shot dead at U.S. school
An experiment in simplicity
I WANT A LIFE

33. The language of newspaper headlines
 Headlines are almost always in the simple present tense.
 The simple present tense is used to describe something
happening in the present or in the past.
 S – V – DO pattern should be followed.

34. Dos in Writing Headlines
 Make sure that the headline answers as many Ws as
possible.
 The headline should summarize the story. It should
not contain anything which is not found in the story.
 Positive headlines are preferable than the negative ones.
School physician allays flu fear
Flu epidemic not rampant in city

35.  Use the strongest word in the first line as much a
possible.
PNP nets dope pusher
Duterte fires 5 cops
Tondo amok haunted
CTE backs plow
Senate steps up slay probe

36.  Write numbers in figures.
 Omit articles like a, an, the and all forms of the verb
to be ( is, are, be ) unless needed to make the meaning
clear.
Reclaimed banks cause of recurrent floods
Clinton is new US president
Five cops – 5 cops
Seven million pesos – Php7-M
Ninety nine percent – 99%
Thirty participants – 30 participants

37.  Make the headline as short as possible. Ideally, maximum
of five words.

38. End
Good luck !