Headlines
What a Headline Can Promise Before the Story Begins
A headline’s verbs and certainty set expectations before you read. Learn how to separate its framing from what the…
The full collection
All pieces
A considered reading of the language around news: headlines, labels, formats, edits, and the small choices that shape a first impression.
Formats
Push Alert or Email Bulletin: Two Different Kinds of First Read
Push alert or email bulletin: choose the format that suits your attention, from a brief interruption to a considered…
Editing
Why Editors Put the Newest Detail Near the Top
Why editors put the newest detail near the top: see how an inverted-pyramid edit gives readers the essential update…
Language
The Trouble with Treating a Label as a Definition
News labels can orient readers, but they cannot explain a person or event. Learn how to read category words without…
Reading
A Quiet Reading Routine for a Story That Keeps Changing
A quiet reading routine for a developing story helps you compare dated versions, spot meaningful edits and keep an…
Our point of view
Words shape the first impression
A headline or label can make a complicated story feel settled before the details appear. We read those choices closely, with room for uncertainty and context.