Last Updated: May 20, 1999
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The write stuff
Let’s lead off with leads. Marshall King, a staff writer for The Elkhart
(Ind.) Truth, took on an unusual assignment. On Thanksgiving eve he worked
as a bag boy at a supermarket. Playing off the title of a current horror
movie, he got right to the point with this lead:
"I know what you’re having for dinner tonight."
***
Here are three leads, all from The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, that demand
that the reader continues:
"When words are unspeakable, a picture is worth a thousand-decibel scream."
(By Tracie Reddick, concerning the despair among black males, reflected
in their artwork and increasing rate of suicide.)
"It’s 8 a.m. in Seattle, the city of Starbucks, but Paula Begoun doesn’t
need caffeine to jump-start her long-distance rant."
(By Carole Tarrant, on the cosmetics expert who rails at exaggerated
claims by the beauty industry.)
"When Lorri Robinson takes center stage, she knows there’s a chance
she’ll put her audience to sleep.
"And that’s OK with her."
(By Donna Koehn, introducing "Granny Goodnight," who spends her evenings
reading bedtime stories at a local library.)
***
Here are three gems by Kevin Kerrigan of the Corpus Christi (Texas)
Caller-Times, who won the Scripps Howard group’s October headline contest:
Trick or delete! Your computer files are dead meat
Internet magazine offers a little shop of imaginary horrors
Hot. Cold. Dry. Wet. And 1997’S not over
It’s been a year of extreme weather in Corpus Christi
Quit torturing kids with this Sorry, Archaic Test
But if you must take it to, like, get into a decent college, herewith,
some tips
***
Gerry Doyle of The University Daily Kansan in Lawrence put this headline
on a story about how the University of Kansas’ increase in tuition and
fees is lowest in the Big 12 Conference:
Filling minds won’t empty wallets
***
The Houston Chronicle does an excellent job with headlines. Here are
three examples:
There’s no biz like biz show
(By Joe Markham, on a wire story on how CNBC is challenging CNN’s "Moneyline"
for business program dominance.)
Tabasco hot over cold-beer ban
(By Jake Doherty, on a proposal to ban the package sale of chilled brew
in the Mexican state identified with "sauce" of a different sort.)
The butter to eat you with, my dear ... Party till you pop
(By Brenda Gunter, on a food-section cover story featuring popcorn)
***
Speaking of food, let’s conclude where we started — with The Elkhart
Truth. Copy editor Trevor Wendzonka wrote this above a wire story concerning
problems with the cranberry harvest in Massachusetts:
Hunt for red Octobers
Your reporters and copy editors shouldn’t have to hunt to see their
good work recognized. Send it to The Write Stuff!
Cooper is executive editor of the Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa. Contact
him at P.O. Box 688, Dubuque IA 52004-0688 or bcooper@wcinet.com
