If content is king, then headlines are its crown.
That was my suggestion for the headline of this story. I messaged it to our team Slack channel specifically reserved for headlines where it was quickly shut down and a bevy of ideas far more worthy were pinged out in rapid succession.
Headlines are an important part of story packaging. If the headline is weird, out of context, confusing or just not interesting, people are less likely to click — no matter what the inside holds. At the same time, a headline shouldn’t be “bait.” You should never click on a headline and then be disappointed with what you find beneath it.
So much of headlining is a combination of being intuitive + being obvious + being clever. The process itself, however, is a bit more rocky. There is drama! Competition! Burns! Tangents! Pauses where nothing gets done at all and then two hours later someone’s like, “Ok so what’s the headline?” It’s a thrill. And because you are all a part of the team, we wanted to share how it’s done…
Leslie: Need a headline for a personal essay about being a woman who loves sports and how people respond to that weirdly. “Why can’t liking sports be like loving the movies or Game of Thrones or ramen? In other words, unremarkable. Why can’t liking sports just make me a sports fan?”
Leandra: I’m a Girly Girl Who Loves Sports, What’s the Big Deal?
Amelia: I’m a Woman Who Likes Sports: SO?
Why Is Sports Still Gendered?
Take the Ball Game Out of the Ball Game
Leslie: Amelia your first is great.
Amelia: But not the balls joke?
Ignored, but I’ll take it. It’s rare that my headlines win. Normally Harling and Haley reign supreme in this region.
Leslie: Headline for Monday about how your parents’ divorce affects your relationships or whether or not you’ll be divorced
Amelia: Here is One More Thing to Tell Your Therapist
Your Parents Divorce Didn’t Do as Much Damage as You Thought
You May Not Be Able to Blame Your Parents for This One bla la la
Your Parents’ Divorce Says a Lot About Your Future // Relationships // Therapy Bill // Attachment Issues //
No?
Your Parents Divorce Could Affect Your Breakups
Leslie: What Your Parents’ Divorce Means for Your Relationships
Amelia: Fine
Ahem. Now let’s get into an example of a real brainstorm where multiple team members participate to hit just the right note.
Haley: Hed help for this piece I’m writing about the collision of NYFW with all this political tension. I spoke to three women in the industry about how they are looking at this upcoming week. Q&A! Did it change their view of the US? Do people have an obligation to address politics during FW?
Three Foreign Industry Vets on NYFW Through the Lens of Politics
3 Industry Vets on the Politics of NYFW
Maria: International?
Leslie: 3 Fashion Vets something
Haley: 3 International Fashion Vets on the Politics of NYFW
It’s a Tricky Time for NYFW: 3 Fashion Vets Weigh In (edited)
3 Fashion Vets Weigh in on the Politics of NYFW
Leslie: Add “perspective,” the perspective from Turkey was v interesting
Kate: It’s not politics of NYFW
Haley: Politics AND NYFW, maybe
Harling: Will Politics Affect Fashion Week? 3 Industry Insiders Weigh In
Haley: I’m liking this more yeah..hmm
Kate: NYFW and Politics: 3 international industry heavyweights weigh in
Maybe fewer boxing references
Haley: 3 Fashion Vets on Whether Politics Should Affect NYFW
NYFW vs. Politics: 3 Fashion Vets on the Week Ahead
3 Fashion Vets on Whether Politics Will Affect NYFW
Leslie how about that last one @leslie
Leslie: Hm, does it tell the story that we are telling?
Harling: Does vets sound weird to anyone else? Makes me think of dogs and cats
Or like, show biz.
Haley: NYFW from Abroad: tk?
Tk means “to know.” It’s a placeholder for a word, phrase or number that’s used in publishing.
Leslie: Yeah, the point is about how people are viewing from abroad
Haley: The Abroad Perspective: 3 Fashion [vets] on NYFW and Politics
Harling: Will Politics Affect NYFW? The International Community Weighs In
Haley: Should Politics Affect NYFW? 3 Seasoned Perspectives From Abroad
terrible
Maria: Will NYFW “Get Political?” The International Community Weighs In
(option to Harling’s)
Haley: Hmm
We Asked People About NYFW Given Our Tense Political Climate
3 International Perspectives on NYFW Given our Current Political…Situation
ha
3 International Perspectives on NYFW and America’s Political Tension
Harling: Tense Politics and NYFW: The International Perspective
Haley: We could do a more general head like
What Will NYFW Be Like in This Political Climate?
Then the promo can mention the international perspective.
Leslie: I like Harling’s latest
Haley: K!
And we have a winner!
Amelia: There Is a Shit Ton of Pink in My Cart – @here – Go!
Leslie: My New Favorite Color is Pink
Too much
All of a Sudden, I Want Pink Clothes
Harling: My Shopping Cart Looks Like the Inside of a Mouth
Ew no
Pink: Not Just for Pepto-Bismol Anymore
Haley: My Shopping Cart Looks Like a Bottle of Pepto (and I Love It)
Leslie: I’m in a Pink Mood, Are You?
Haley: I’m rly into parentheticals in titles for some reason
Erica: Pink, So Hot Right Now. Pink.
Harling: Cool Girls Wear Pink
Eliz: Elle Woods is in My Cart
Harling: Haha I like that
Eliz: My Cart is a Barbie Dream House
Haley: Suddenly All I Want Are Pink Clothes
Haley wins.
Leslie: Headline
Camera Roll Cleanse: 10 Types of Photos You Can Live Without
We can’t do another one that starts w/10 FYI
Delete These Photos Off Your Phone
Photos to Delete Off Your Phone
Amelia: Delete These Photos Off Your Phone ASAP!
Photos to Delete Before Things Get Weird
Harling: Photos Your Camera Roll Can Live Without
Leslie: I like asap
Amelia: :star:
Harling: You win
I’ll take it. Victory.
Photos by Krista Anna Lewis.
