Journalistic English Tutoring 1: Headline

You can be a better reader if you know what to expect in a newspaper. For example,

when you read a newspaper you usually look quickly at headlines first. Newspaper headlines have a language of their own headlines and it is necessary to learn about it.

1.1. Functions of Headlines：

1.1.1 Outlining the News: Essence of the News

A newspaper usually has dozens of pages. It is unimaginable that a common

reader should read the newspaper word by word from the very beginning to the

end. Readers read the paper to his taste. Thus, headlines are a “guide” for them,

for headlines are the essence of the news to read.

1.1.2 Beautifying the Format of the Newspaper Pages

Headlines help to clarify news articles respectively in the paper to make the pages readable.

1.2. Features of Headlines

Please read the following headlines:

Moscow official wounded by gunmen

Earthquake rocks Turkey

Husband to sue wife

Boy on cliff rescued

Young Sudanese refugees endured famine, separations from family

From above we can see two prominent features of English newspaper headlines:

☆ Headlines are almost always in the present tense and even future events are

put in the present tense。

☆ Headlines generally omit unnecessary words, especially articles and the verb

to be. And is often replaced by a comma.

1.2.1. Grammatical Features of Headlines

1.2.1.1. Omission

Omission of grammatical words or functional words, such as articles, conjunction of „and‟, link verb of „to be‟, etc.

e.g. a) Top Indian Hotel Angry at BBC

(=A top Indian hotel is angry at the BBC.)

b) NBC‟s President Seeks Big Acquisitions, Ventures for Network

(=The NBC‟s president seeks big acquisitions and ventures for the

network.)

c) Mother, Daughter Share Fulbright Year

(=A mother and her daughter share a Fulbright Year.)

d) Three Dead After Inhaling Over Gas

e) Financier Killed by Burglars

f) Move to Ban Tobacco Advertising

Notes: a) TB on the Rise Again in China

b) Four Killed and

Five Hurt

In a House Fire

1.2.1.2. Tenses

The frequent tenses used in the headline are the simple present, the simple future

and the present progressive, whether it is of the past event, in order to add to its

freshness and immediacy.

e.g. a) Longevity Star Dies at 110

b) Largest Chinese Trade Delegation to Visit US in Nov.

c) Deposits, Loans Rising in HK

d) Sun Faces Charge Over „Racist‟ Cartoon

1.2.1.3. Voices

Passive voice in the headline is often represented without the auxiliary verb „be‟ or „by‟ phrase. Only the bare past participle will do.

e.g. Two Workmen Injured in Electrical Accident

1.2.1.4. Punctuations

a) Comma is often functioned as the conjunction „and‟.

e.g. China, Japan Seek More Ways

b) dash is often functioned as quotes, introducing the speaker or the source.

e.g. Economy Grows Slowly as Unemployment, Inflation Rise —Economists

c) Colon is often functioned as „saying‟ or the conjunction of link verb „be‟.

e.g. Bush: US Vows to Combat Terrorists

Chinese Acrobats: Masters of Stunts

1.2.2. Wording Features of the Headlines

1.2.2.1. Short and Simple, But Not Lengthy

Short, simple and concrete words are often applied in the headlines to create vividness and accuracy.

e.g. US Refuses to Back Environment Fund

Europe Hold Talks to End Tension in Yugoslavia

World Eyes Mid-East Peace Talk

Allowance to Be Cut in 200,000 Families

Words for Your Reference (1): Verbs

aid help / assist alter change ask inquire

assail denounce axe dismiss / reduce back support

ban prohibit / forbid bar prevent bare expose / reveal /

disclose

blast explode begin commence bid attempt

bilk cheat bolt desert / abandon boost increase

buy purchase check examine claim cause the death

of

clash disagree strongly curb control / restrict cut reduce

dip decline / decrease due schedule ease reduce / lessen

edict decree /

proclamation

end terminate eye watch with

interest

face confront fire dismiss flay criticize

flout insult foil prevent from grab acquire

grib seize grill investigate gut destroy

head direct hit criticize hold retain / arrest

hurt injure kick abandon kill murder

laud praise launch begin /

commence

loom happen

lop diminish map work out mar damage

mark celebrate moot discuss mull study / consider

nab arrest name appoint / elect /

nominate

net capture

nip defeat nix deny / disapprove nod approve

opt choose oust expel peril endanger

pledge promise plot conspire plunge plummet

poise ready for action probe investigate prod instigate

prompt trigger off quit resign / step

down

raid attack / search

rap criticize rage become violent raze destroy

rebuke criticize rock shake violently /

shock

rout defeat

completely

sack dismiss shift transfer shun abandon

slay murder snub neglect soar skyrocket

spark encourage spur encourage stall make no

progress

stem check study investigate swap exchange

sway influence thwart obstruct toe criticize

top exceed trade exchange trim reduce

try endeavor /

attempt

urge promote /

advocate

use utilize

vie compete void invalidate voice express

vow promise /

determine

wed marry weigh consider

woo seek to win

Words for Your Reference (2): Nouns

ace champion aid assistance arms weapons

blast explosion blow injury /

disappointment

body committee

suffered

clash controversy cool uninterested cop policeman

crash collision deal agreement /

transaction

dems democrats

down decrease envoy ambassador fake counterfeit

fete celebration feud strong dispute firm company

flop failure freeze stabilization gem jewel

glut oversupply GOP Grand Old Party jobless unemployment

key essential link connection loot money stolen

man representative mart market nod approval

output production pact agreement /

treaty

pay wage / salary

pit coal mine plea request for help poll election / public

opinion

post position probe investigation pullout withdrawal

Reds communists riddle mystery rift separation

row quarrel set ready snag unexpected

difficulty

stance attitude statement dispute that

cannot be settle

step progress

strife conflict talk conference ties (diplomatic)

relations

tiff argument Tory The

Conservative Party

1.2.2.2. Initials or Acronyms

a) For organizations and Proper Names:

EEC=European Economic Community

UNESCO

CPPCC=Chinese People‟s Political Consultative Conference

IMF to recruit new members (International Monetary Fund)

RAF‟s New Jet Makes Debut

ASEAN, CIA, CPC, FBI, GATT, IOC, NASA, NATO, NPC, OAU, OPEC,

PLO, WHO

b) For common things:

ABM, EST, GMT, ICBM, PR, SALT, SDI, DJI, UFO

c) For professions:

MP, PM, VIP, TP,

Notes: Initials in the headlines may not familiar to the readers. Anyhow, the

complete forms of the initials can usually be found in the lead or understood

through the context.

e.g. US Refuses ME Talks Date Change

WASHINGTON ——The US administration on Thursday turned down Arab

requests for setting a new starting time for the Middle East peace talks.

Alumnus Donates $ 1 Million to SMU

A Chinese-American doctor donated $ 1 million to Shanghai Medical

University as a special gift to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of his

alma mater.

1.2.2.3. Shortened Words or Abbreviations

Some commonly used nouns, adjectives are often shortened by clipping to

save letters in the headlines, which could be easily detected through the context.

e.g. overseas co-ops, hi-tech research, nuke arms

grad (graduate), hosp (hospital), bn (billion), pc (percent), cig (cigarette)

Words for your reference (3): Abbreviations

ad advertisement auto automobile bach bachelor

biz business celeb celebrity champ champion

con convict deli delicatessen divi diviend

disco discotheque doc doctor dorm dormitory

exam examination expo exposition frat fraternity

gas gasoline gym gymnasium homo homosexual

Japs Japanese lab laboratory lav lavatory

mag magazine lib liberation memo memorandum

mod modern pic picture pix pictures

pro professional rail railway rep representative

Russ Russia sec secretary sub Subway /

submarine

van vanguard vet veteran uni University

cello violoncello chute parachute coon racoon

copter helicopter dozer bulldozer gator alligator

quake earthquake wig periwig flu influenza

fridge refrigerator tec detective vic convict

Nat‟l national nat nationalist heliport Helicopter

airport

motel Motor hotel Int‟l international dept department

Com‟l commercial C‟tee committee cric critic

C‟wealth Common Wealth bike bicycle mike microphone

pram perambulator Co-ed Female college

student

Aussie Australian

bookie bookmaker hanky handkerchief telly television

1.2.2.4. Journalistic Coinages

Journalistic coinages are often made up of a phrase by saving some syllables in order to make a compound.

e.g. smog=smoke fog; newscast=news broadcast;

atobomb=atom bomb; blacketeer=black marketer;

cinemanufacturer=cinema manufacturer; fruice=fruit juice;

slanguage=slang language; politburo=polical bureau;

teleceiver=television receiver; Euromart=European Common Market;

stagflation=stagnation and inflation; Euromissiles=European-based missiles

Notes: Witticism or pun is often seen in the headlines

e.g. Chinese Climbers Hold Summit Talks

1.2.3. Types of Headlines

Newspaper headlines can be classified into several types:

☆ Straight headlines give you the main topic of the story. They are the most common type of headline and are the easiest to understand.

Snow has chilling effects on South

Clinton offers Bush advice.

☆ Headlines that ask a question, report a future possibility or offer some doubt

about the truth or accuracy of the story.

Can technology fix ballot woes?

Do market analysts have bad aim or bad intentions?

☆ Headlines that contain a quotation which is important or which shows that a statement is not proven.

Mother: Let my baby go

“We won’t quit”

☆ Double headlines are two-part headlines for the same story and are often used for

major events.

How Express broke diplomatic silence

HUSH-UP ON “SPY” ENVOYS

☆ Feature headlines are used for stories that are either highly unusual or amusing.

Headlines for such stories try to be as clever as possible to catch the reader's

interest.

Teletubbles maker seeks funds for expansion

Dead student fell under the crush during clashes

1.2.4. Understanding Headline Vocabulary

Word Common headline

meaning

Example

accord agreement Accord possible today

air to make known TV airs “facts” on arms delivery

assail to criticize strongly Russ assails US on A-tests

axe to dismiss from a job Governor to axe aide?

back to support Algeria backs decision to ignore dollar

balk to refuse to accept Union balks at court order

bar not to allow Club faces shutdown for barring women

bid attempt

offer

Bid to open border

Union rejects latest bid

bilk to cheat Clerk bilks company of $1m

blast(noun) explosion; strong

criticism

Tanker blast near Manila

blast(verb) criticize strongly

strike with explosives

MP blasts democrats

blaze fire Blaze kills three

cite mention Management cites labor unrest for

shutdown

claim to declare to be true Man claims ghost sighting

claim(claim

the life of)

to kill Bombs claim40

clash(noun) battle; dispute Marine dies in clash

clash(verb) disagree strongly ;fight Mayor clashes with city council

cool uninterested; unfriendly Moscow cool to aid offer

curb limit; control Sunday driving curbs planned

deadlock a disagreement that

cannot be settled

Jury deadlock in kidnap trial

drive a strong well-planned

effort by a group for a

particular purpose

Cancer drive exceeds goal

due expected Greek FM due today

eye to watch with interest Women's groups eye court vote

ease to reduce or loosen Rome eases martial law

eve the day before Violence on eve of independence

fault to find in the wrong Study faults police

feud dispute; strong

disagreement

Border feud danger to regional peace

flay accuse; criticize strongly US flays Russia

foe opponent; enemy Clinton talks with congressional foes

foil to prevent from

succeeding

FBI folls bid to hijack plane to Iran

grip to take hold of Cholera fear grips Japan

gut to destroy completely by

fire

Year's biggest fire guts 178 homes

head off to prevent President heads off rail strike

heist theft Jewel heist foiled

hold keep in police control;

arrest

7 held for smuggling

ink

to sign Thailand, Malaysia ink sea treaty

key very important Gov't.wins key vote

kick off to begin Fiery speech kicks off campaign

lash out criticize strongly; accuse College heads lash out at NUS

laud to praise PM lauds community spirit

line position; demand Israel softens line

launch to begin Police launch anti-drug drive

link connected to Fungus linked to mystery disease

loom expected in the near Treaty dispute looming

future

loot(noun) stolen money or goods Police recover loot

loot(verb) unlawful taking away of

valuable

Rioters loot stores goods

nab to capture Gang leader nabbed

net to take possession of;

capture

Customs check nets over $2m

nod approval Minister seeks nod for oil saving plan

office an important government

position

Minister quits, tired of office

opt choose; decide Swiss opt to back tax for churches

oust to take power away from Voters' oust incumbents

pact a solemn agreement Peace pact today?

plea deeply felt request Mother's plea; Let me see my baby

plea a statement in court

indicating guilt or

innocence

Guilty pleas expected

pledge promise IOC pledges support

poised ready for action Workers poised to strike

poll election October poll?

poll Voting station Voters go to the polls in Japan

post position in government,

Business

Unknown gets key Cabinet post

probe investigation Governor orders fire probe

prompt to cause Court decision prompts public anger

rage to burn out of control Forest fire rages

rap(noun) accusation charge Corruption rap unfair says senator

rap(verb) criticize Safety commission raps auto companies

rock to shock; to surprise Gov't. report rocks stock market

rout defeat completely Rebels routed, leave 70 dead

row a quarrel Oil price row may bring down gov't

rule decide Court rules out PLO talks

sack dismiss from a job Jail chief sacked

sack(from

“ransack”)

to search thoroughly and

rob

14 held for US embassy sacking

set decided on; ready IMF talks set for April

slay to kill or murder 2 slain in family row

snag problem; difficulty Last minute snag hits arms talks

snub to pay no attention to Protestants snub Ulster peace bid

soar to rise rapidly Inflation rate soars

spark to cause; to lead to action Frontier feuding sparks attack

stalemate a disagreement that

cannot be settled

New bid to break hostage stalemate

stall making no progress Peace effort in Lebanon stalled

stance attitude; way of thinking New stance toward power cuts

stem to prevent or stop Rainy season stems refugee exit

sway to influence or persuade President fails to sway union-strike set

swindle an unlawful way of

getting money

Stock swindle in NY

thwart prevent from being

successful

Honduras attack thwarted

ties relations Vietnam ties soon?

trim to cut Senate trims budget

trigger to cause Killing triggers riot

vie to compete Irish top ranks vie for office

void to determine to be invalid Voting law voides by court

vow a solemn promise Police chief vows to catch kidnappers

weigh to consider Bush weights tax increase

Journalistic English Tutoring 2: Lead

2.1. Functions and characteristics of the lead

Lead distinguishes news from other forms of literature. Usually lead refers to

the first paragraph or first few paragraphs including the latest, foremost intriguing

facts. It is either to summarize, or to outline, or to brief the news in order to lead

the readers to the depth of the story. Western journalists regard the lead as the

cream of the news as well as a show window of their writing style.

2.1.1. Succinct

Being brief, simple, plain, and concise, a lead is usually of about 25 words or

at most 35 words by one sentence.

2.1.2. Informative

A lead should tells of the essence of the news within the fewest words.

2.1.3. Intriguing

Try to attract the readers‟ interest through its wording. Now try to compare

the following examples.

Examples:

1) Police Chief I. W. Carmichael announced today two children were killed

outside Prospect Park, at Jackson Ave. and 16th

St., N. W., when a “recklessly

driven” automobile jumped the curb near where they were playing at 2 P. M. and

ran them down.

2) Two children were killed and 12 others injured today when an automobile

hit them outside Prospect Park.

3) Two children at play were killed and 12 others injured today when a

speeding sports car jumped the curb outside Prospect Park and ran them down.

2.2. types and features of the lead

2.2.1. Summary lead or roundup lead

BARCELONA — — China‟s woman swimmer Zhuang Yong took the first

swimming title of the 25th Olympic Games by winning the women‟s 100 metre

freestyle in 54.64 seconds here yesterday.

2.2.2. Main fact lead

Sixteen-year-old Li Hongmei has become China‟s most successful heart

transplant patient.

2.2.3. Descriptive lead

Old women sit stoically on cots, and portly men sweat in the heat, oblivious to the

youngsters at play around them. This camp for Bosnian refugees is in Vienna, but it

could be almost anywhere in central Europe.

2.2.4. Direct address lead or personal lead

This is my first dispatch from China in 22 years. The news I have to report would

have been incredible only a few weeks ago——Americans are welcome in the

People‟s Republic.

If you live another 50 years, you will probably be a millionaire. However, a loaf

of bread will cost $ 37, a car $ 280,000 and a home $ 3.4 million.

2.2.5. Quotation lead

“These people tried to loot and burn our city and we intend to make them pay for

it,” said Mr Iran Reiner, the tough-talking district attorney of Los Angles County.

This was Sunday afternoon, as he stood in the fifth-floor courtroom of the

Criminal Courthouse supervising the arraignments of some of the more than 9,000

people arrested during three days of the worst civil disorders in recent United States

history.

2.2.6. Suspense lead

Two weeks ago Sue Macrady bought a stack of guidebooks to national parks,

planning a cross-country trip she and her husband were to begin today. Tao days later

she bought a coffin.

2.2.7. Delayed lead or multi-paragraph lead

MOSCOW——When lunch was over Galina Scherbakova, 72, just did not want

to leave.

She stayed on long after the dishes were cleared off, admiring the blue tablecloth,

the fresh yellow tulip on it and marveling about the food she had just eaten: U. S.

military leftovers from the Gulf War.

“We had three courses today,” said the poverty-stricken pensioner, one of the first

to partake of the U. S. humanitarian aid that began arriving here Monday by the

planeload. “We‟ve never had that much before.”

2.2.8. Contrast lead

While nine survivors of the Nanjing plane crash last Friday have recovered

sufficiently to be out of danger, six others who survived initially died to raise the

death to 106.

2.2.9. Question lead

How long could Margaret Tancock resist the pull of the rag trade?

There were no plans when the former queen of the local boutique scene won the

franchise for the Body Shops in Hong Kong three years ago.

2.2.10. Anecdotal lead

At 14, Kent Conrad figured he‟d be ready for the Senate in 1986 or 1988.

twenty-four years later, Conrad laughs at the memory. At 38, about to become North

Dakota‟s new senator, he says “I guess I was a serious kid.”

2.2.11. Combined lead or multiple element lead

Riot police were involved in further clashes with a crowd of about 300 early

today as “bread riots” in the Ely district of Cardiff broke out again for the third night

running.

2.2.12. Label lead or empty lead

Prime Minister Chung Won Shik of South Korea will meet the North Korea

leader Kim II Sung, during a visit to North Korea next week, state television said

Tuesday. The report could not be confirmed.

Journalistic English Tutoring 3: Dateline 和 Source

3.1. Dateline

Newspapers not only carry stories sent by their correspondents or reporters, but

also news dispatches provided by different news agencies, especially for those local

or district newspapers. Therefore, news dispatches are the major news source for most

of the newspapers.

Major news agencies in the world are: AP (Associated Press), UPI (United Press

International), Reuter (The Reuter Ltd), AFP (L‟Agence France Press),

BAGHDAD, Nov. 26 (Reuter)——Iraq‟s health minister described here today the

West‟s refusal to unfreeze Iraqi assets to allow Baghdad to buy life-saving drugs as

„the crime of the century.‟

The Times, Nov. 27, 1991

1) LONDON, Nov. 22 (UPI)——A dull, unassuming stamp with a smudgy

post-mark fetched a record of 33,000 pounds sterling ($59,000) for a 20th

century British stamp at a London auction today, Sotheby‟s Auction said

here.

The New York Times, Nov. 23, 1991

3.2. News source

3.2.1. Accurate news source

TIRANA——More than 30 people were killed when fire broke out after a

hungry crowd rushed a store house, Albanian radio was quoted as saying.

The Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 11, 1991