HEADLINES ARE NOT the story, but it is a worldwide truism that many people interested in news simply read or glance at the headlines and then decide what articles to read.
That makes perfect common sense and explains why women will stop and carefully read headlines (and advance to the article) that proclaim something like “Brad Pitt gets better with age” or “George Clooney poses nude… again”.
Men, for the most part, are more elementary and earthy and will stop and peruse almost any headline that just might be titillating, to wit: “(Some unknown ‘celebrity’) has wardrobe malfunction” or “Upside-down bikini fad pushing the limits of casual wear”.
As a former newspaper editor, I love headlines, all kinds of headlines, from the mundane to the intellectually stimulating to the drop-down-on-the-floor hilarious. All types are out there daily; all you have to do is peruse the newspapers, magazines, and electronic news outlets.
Some headlines, current or from recent history, “demand” my attention…and probably demand yours, also.
- “Pot grower crushed to death by policeman driving a bulldozer”
There are some actions in life that are right, partially right, partially wrong and double-dog dead wrong. There is no “right” in that headline. It heralds a story that would be hard to pass up.
- “8-year-old homeless refugee becomes chess champion”
Who would not read this story? Only folks who hate chess, the homeless, or refugees. The young boy is not just a champion, but the overall champion of New York in the 6-9-year-old age group. And he has been playing the game for less than a year. His goal: To be the youngest chess master in history. (Did I mention he was a homeless refugee?)
- “Gun in pocket of substitute teacher discharges in first grade classroom, one injured.”
There is nothing about this headline that is right. Arming teaches is an idea akin to giving a diabetic with no self-control a washtub full of Little Debbie snacks.
- “A black man was handcuffed while moving into his own house”
Racism is alive and well in America, thanks to Neanderthal thinking, or subtle hints for key leaders that abusing people who are different or don’t believe as you do is A-OK. The tiny-minded minions that follow racist tendencies preached by so-called leaders are to be scorned. If you see nothing wrong with this headline, bless your heart..
- “DACA recipient working as a flight attendant detained by ICE”
This story is about a woman who had been in this country since she was three. Her DACA status was in effect; she is married to a U.S. citizen and worked for Mesa Airlines. She was refused re-entry to the United States after a flight to Mexico. She has never been in trouble, works hard, and pays taxes. Find something “right” about this situation. Don’t bother, you can’t.
- Chick-Fil-A on the hot seat after ‘anti-LGBTQ policies’
People deserve to be treated as YOU want to be treated. Many people love the low-maintenance food at this restaurant chain; many of those people will not be having that signature sandwich with the pressure-cooked chicken chunk and the single pickle. Count me among that number; there are consequences for non-inclusion and outright hatred of lifestyles, religions, and other human likes and dislikes
SOME HEADLINES defy any reasonable reason why there was a
need to ever write them.
- “George Santos demands to know if this U.S. representative bleaches his private parts.”
Santos might have a personal desire to know this information; no one else with half a brain does. Some folks go out of thwir wy to prove they are certified idiots.
- “MAGA candidate: ‘My calls to execute Biden and Obama are being taken out of context.”
Fine, but just what was the proper context in saying, “Biden and Obama should be executed?” There should be no place for violence in any form in a political context.
- “Trump, lawyers disagree on whether he has NY bond money.
Last week, Trump’s lawyers in the New York fraud case said raising $500,000,000 for a trial bond was imposible. Sunday, Trump put an all-caps message on Truth Social that ‘THROUGH HARD WORK, TALENT, AND LUCK, I CURRENTLY HAVE ALMOST 500 MILLION IN CASH…” Okay, fine. Which is it and if Trump is correct, when will bond be posted? (The amount of the bond was reduced to $175 million Monday.)
Finally,
- “Taylor Swift rocks tiny bikini while packing on the PDA during beach day with Travis Kelce.”
I read the article but did not look at the photos. Yeah, right! That just proves two positives can make a negative.
George Smith views the world from the back porch Bedspring Ridge, a dogtrot house he built in Sutton, Arkansas on old family land on a spot where his great-grandfather’s house once stood. There he lives and opines with his wife BobbieJean and a rescue dog, “Li’l Dawg.” A former newspaper reporter, editor and publisher, he has a master’s degree in business, is a retired director for a global technology company, has been a business owner, student of government and the behavior of politicians. He has been a college instructor, national motivational speaker, community development and festival development consultant and is a published author.