A.2 Strategy 1: Story and Headline

A. Strategy 1: Story and Headline

B. What's the Story?

Ramy said in the video that he looks for stories that can educate or inspire those watching.  Click below for an example of each! As you read each example, be thinking if the story is to educate or inspire people to take action.

Example 1

A story on fuel efficient school buses and how it is saving the school district money.

Example 1

Example 2

A community gathers food, clothing, and household items for a family impacted by a house fire.

Example 2

Could you pick out which was to inspire and which was to educate? If you said example 1 was to educate and example 2 was to inspire you are correct!

C. Write the Headline!

Every news story, whether it educates or inspires, has a headline. Stories only have 1 headline because news stories are about 1 topic. The headline helps tell viewers what the story or central idea of the story will be about. 


A headline is a quick summary. It quickly tells the news viewers what the story is going to be about and also attempts to hook the reader. In a newspaper, the headline heading at the top of a news story and in larger font size.

Now you are going to watch one of Ramy’s news stories. You’ll join Ramy as he sets sail from London on an old ship.

 

Directions: Now that you know what a headline is – it is your job to write a headline for Ramy’s news story.

  • Watch the video  below.
  • What would be a good headline that both tells about the story, but also hooks the reader? Why?
  • Discuss your headline with a partner.

D. You Try

Directions: Read the headlines below and decide which are effective. 

Imagine you are a community journalist and the following headlines recently in the news:

  • Homeless shelter needs food
  • Burst pipe at library, books destroyed
  • Too much trash in local parks
  • Animal shelters need your help – adopt!
  • Elementary school students disappointed, new playground equipment needed.

Think About It: 

  1. Which headline(s) do you find effective?  Why? 
  2. Which story do you think would inspire readers?  
  3. Which story do you think would educate?  Think and discuss with a partner or reflect on your own.
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