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Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 7 posts ] 
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 Post subject: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:39 am 
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Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 8342
Location: Bethesda, Md.
Yesterday's New York Times featured a front-page, above-the-fold headline naming the British firm Vodafone the "Favored Buyer of AT&T Wireless."
The story carefully noted that Cingular Wireless could end up making the winning bid - which indeed happened in the wee hours yesterday, after The Times' final deadline.
Did executive editor Bill Keller roll the dice and come up snake eyes?
"It wasn't exactly a roll of the dice - it was where the story was when the paper went to bed," he told me. "The story was fine. I wish the headline had said 'ATT in Play: It's a Jump Ball.'
(New York Daily News)


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 Post subject: Re: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 8:40 am 
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Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 8342
Location: Bethesda, Md.
Also from Keller:<p>"This business would be a lot easier if the stories didn't have to have headlines." (NYDN)


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 Post subject: Re: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:53 pm 
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Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:01 am
Posts: 2266
Location: New Jersey
Any halfway decent copy editor should be able to come up with good headlines given the charitable specs one finds on the NYT's cover. I used to fantasize about such things.


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 Post subject: Re: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:15 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2003 12:01 am
Posts: 3137
Location: Homebush NSW Australia
In relation to this thread's head, any handy hints on what to do when executive editors insist on writing them, and badly?


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 Post subject: Re: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:42 pm 
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Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 3557
Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both
Yeah. Lie back and think of England.


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 Post subject: Re: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 11:11 am 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:01 am
Posts: 458
Location: Heart of Global Warming
<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>From AP: <p>Nebraska Mayor Implements Shaving `ban'

LEXINGTON, Neb. - Beware showing any whiskers in Lexington these days.<p>Lexington Mayor John Fagot has implemented a "ban" on shaving for every man in town older than 21.<hr></blockquote>One to write the headline, one to write the lead, one to write...<p>D.


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 Post subject: Re: Why executive editors don't write headlines
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:07 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 840
Location: Ashland, Ore.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by DominEditrix:
One to write the headline, one to write the lead, one to write...<p>D.<hr></blockquote><p>One can hope no one backed into that story.


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