If I Wrote the Headlines at the L.A. Times
A story in today’s paper is headlined: A Nobel Nominee Faces Execution.
My headline would have read: “Convicted Quadruple Murderer and Crips Founder Faces Execution.”
I know, I know, too wordy. I still like it better.
MisHeadlines
KelliPundit (28eb22) — 2/3/2005 @ 11:30 pmImagine….. If journalists could write honest headlines. Nah, it’ll never happen.
Ah, but that would be misleading. Rather than quibble over who killed who, let’s focus on the important thing. We all know he’s on death row for being a Nobel Prize nominee, not for any inconsequential murders he may or may not have committed.
Xrlq (c51d0d) — 2/3/2005 @ 11:46 pmDoes “Nominee” even count when were dealing with the Nobel Prize? And who nominated him, Ed Asner? Big deal. Kill him … now.
MOG (a4cbc6) — 2/4/2005 @ 2:50 pmLet’s look at the three key pieces of information that could be included in the headline.
1) he’s a Crip founder
2) he was convicted of four murders
3) he was nominated for a nobel prize
Wow getting all that in would go across the full newspaper page. That’ll never happen so let’s be pragmatic and examine what’s most notable and actually catch peoples’ attention:
How often do we execute gang members/leaders?
Fairly often
How often do we execute multiple count murders?
Fairly often
How often do we execute nobel nominees?
Which item is the most unique, unusual and likely to grab your attention?
Ya, I rest my case for including this in the headline.
Daniel Gonzales (f3b30f) — 2/4/2005 @ 6:51 pmoh and Patterico, instead of offering a constructive solution you just offered up a turd which you admit to be too wordy.
I’m still waiting for a headline of realistic length you feel isn’t biased or too wordy.
Daniel Gonzales (f3b30f) — 2/4/2005 @ 7:18 pm“Quadruple Murderer Faces Execution”
Sub-head: “U.S. 9th Circuit rejects appeal by Crips founder and Nobel nominee, who claimed bias in jury selection.”
Patterico (756436) — 2/5/2005 @ 12:46 am