Head Or Caption Writer

( Originally Published 1913 )

THE circulation of the newspaper is not independent of the headings it uses over news and other matter. Many readers do not peruse any article at length, or read it in its entirety, but depend upon the headings for information.

This condition commercially justifies the use of large type and sensational headlines.

Because of the demand for startling, sensational, and descriptive headings, the heading writer occupies a position of much responsibility. He should be a rapid reader and able to get at the gist of an article or piece of news at a glance, that he may describe or present the subject in the heading, with or without subheadings, so that the reader may anticipate what the article contains.

The heading must not only give information, but it must create interest on the part of the reader.

It is quite necessary that the heading writer have a knowledge of type, that he may be able instantly to write a heading which will typographically fit into the space given him and follow the typographical dress of the paper.

While all editors and reporters are fairly efficient headline writers; comparatively few of them are experts at it. Efficiency in this direction seems to require a special aptitude, and may be considered as an art in itself.

The writer of headings, however, usually has other duties, and may be a desk editor.