The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-19
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES.

An animated and interesting discussion
of the ethics of newspaper headlines has
been going on for the past week or two,
participated in by our esteemed contempo-
raries in Charleston, Atlanta, Columbia,
Greenville and elsewhere. BY common
consent it seems, the New York Sun and
the New York Journal have been pitched
upon as representing the two distinctive
schools of hesdlining; the one conserva-
tive, concise and plain, and the other Ill
tra-sensa tional, making the heading a
flaring advertisement-and often a inls-
leading one-of the article under it, rather
than a caption briefly Summarizing the
chief points contained in the article.
The Greenville Is. c. News, a believer
in conservatism and decorum, is so kind
as to say this: "As matter of fact, the
quiet, well ordered heading, such as the
New York Sun or the Savannah News,
usually tells the story much better than
the Journal style, initiated by newspapers
which think they are modern when they
copy after the worst models at the North
and West. The writer of this worked for
a time in the Journal office and had some
used in headlines there and learned how
frequently it was necessary to sacrifice
meaning, sense and English to the typo
Grai'Eical requirements of the lay OUT
The difference between the two styles of
head lining, the News explains, so far as
appearance goes lis the difference Jhete
is teiween a gentleman dressed correct
ly. elegantly and quietly and a cheap and
vulgar Bowery swell out for holiday and
trying to draw attention by the loudness
OF his clothes
1t is compliment to be classed, in the
matter of mechanical excellence, with the
New York SUM- and ito have the approba-
ton of Sir Hubert Stanley" of the Green
vile News, lis praise indeed" At the
same time, while we believe in and adhere
to the simple and direct style of headlin-
ing, we admit there are reasons for the
other kind. The, clientele of the paper
the patronage to which it caters, and the
character of the paper itself, must de-
termine how it win present the news that
is contained in its columns The New
York Journal. for instance, would never
have made a success with the Suns style
of headlines. The Journal goes after read
ers who want not less than thirteen
thrills for a cent-and that class Of readers
In New York, and some other cities. is
very large. 1t therefore makes bark
ers" of its headlines, like those that stand
at the door OF the circus side show and
tell of the marvellous freaks to be found
within. Nevertheless, the Journal and the
freak shows meet a demand; otherwise
they would not exist
Taking the Journal and the Sun as
types, it may be said that the former is
read because the people hope to get some
thing sensational out of it, while the lat
ter is read because the people expect to
derive information from it. The mechani-
cal appearance of a newspap per furnishes
very reiiabl indica ton of the character
of the town which 1t represents and of
the people who patronize it. In the mod
esty, directness and grace of our own
headlines and the solidity and scrupu-
lous fairness Of the articles under them,
we claim to reflect the character of Sa-
vannah and South Georgia; as our con-
temporary the Greenville News in like
manner reflects the sterling character of
Upper South Carolina.