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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
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