Copyreading and

Headline Writing
Alvin Louie E. Reyes – FGNMHS

Division Virtual LAC on Campus Journalism

for School Paper Adviser
C’s in Copyediting
• Correct – spelling, grammar, punctuation,
etc.
• Condense – edit verbose copy
• Check – facts and statements
• Clarify – delete opinionated statements;
counter check accuracy of information
 Copyediting
01 Symbols
Copyediting Symbols
Symbol Instructions Example
Copyediting Symbols
Symbol Instructions Example
Copyediting Symbols
Symbol Instructions Example
Copyediting Symbols
Symbol Instructions Example
Copyediting Symbols
Symbol Instructions Example
Copyediting Symbols
Copyediting Symbols
Copyediting Symbols
dagdag or add Additional page

add 1 add 2

more more 30
Copyediting Symbols
02 Headline Writing
The Headline

It is where the
readers (judges)
start.
The Headline
“Window” of the newspaper
as it serves as a quick source
of information for busy
readers.

The term used to refer to the

title of the news
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● It attracts reader’s eye and directs its attention to
the story beneath it.
● It is concisely constructed to save space. Articles
and other unnecessary words are omitted.
● It must be positive and active. Active verb in the
present or future tense is used because aside from
being a short word, it is also the tense of
immediacy, and it is more vivid.
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● The head should tell the gist of the story.
● It should contain a verb, but not start with one.

Wrong: Extension of voter registration

Correct: Comelec extends voter registration in NCR,
other areas
● Be in the active voice.

● Avoid the use of articles to begin a headline.

Wrong: A fire hits Tondo slum area

Correct: Fire hits Tondo slum area
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● To use direct quotation as head, use any of the
following forms instead of the traditional quotation
marks:
Dash: Pacquiao asked me to run as his VP -- Tulfo
Substitution layong palakasin ang partido--analyst
Colon: Tulfo: Pacquiao asked me to run as his VP
Narrative: 100 start-ups to help set up shop says SM
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● Use the shortest word possible
cop - police against – Vs
nab - arrest congressman - solon
mishap - accident syndicate - gang
up - increase approve - ok
down - decrease investigate - probe
thief - robber prohibit - ban
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● Use the historical present tense if the verb is in
the active voice.
Wrong: Delgado topped editorial tilt
Correct: Delgado tops editorial tilt
● Use comma instead of and / at
Example: 15 bahay, barangay hall sa Bakun,
Benguet apektado sa landslide
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● Use infinitive for future events
● Mention only the name of person who is
prominent
Example: Labor chief to name lawyers,
environmentalists in senatorial slate
● Use semicolon to separate sentences
Example: 2 patay sa buy-bust sa Tawi-Tawi;
P10M shabu nasabat
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE
● Use infinitive for future events
● Mention only the name of person who is
prominent
Example: Labor chief to name lawyers,
environmentalists in senatorial slate
● Use semicolon to separate sentences
Example: 2 patay sa buy-bust sa Tawi-Tawi;
P10M shabu nasabat
 Unit Counting in Headline
Letters
small letter CAPITAL
½ unit - j l i f t 1 unit - J L I F T
1 ½ units – m w 2 units – M W
1 unit – remaining letters 1 ½ units – REMAINING

Punctuations
½ unit . , : ; ! ‘
1 unit 0-9, ? $ P % - (space)
1 ½ units em dash (--)
 Unit Counting in Headline

Grenade blast kills 2

18 1/2
 Unit Counting in Headline

Marcos nagtalaga ng
bagong opisyal
33 units
 Slugline and Printer’s
03 Direction
 The Slugline
Slugline
Headline
Name of Newspaper Inquirer
Type of Article News/Balita
Date to be published 12/9/2020
Writer J. Dela Cruz
Label from
Zambo blast… 1
headline

Page Number
 The Printer’s Direction
Slugline Printer’s
Headline Direction
 The Printer’s Direction
3 - number od columns
30 - font size
3 - 30 - GeorgiaB (31.5 u.c.) GeorgiaB - font family
1, ds, fl 31.5 u.c. - total unit count
1 - number of lines
ds, fl – downstyle
flush left
Headline Schedule
36 pt.: 30 pt.:
5 columns = 43-45 units 5 columns = 53-55 units
4 columns = 34-36 units 4 columns = 42-44 units
3 columns = 24-27 units 3 columns = 31-33 units
2 columns = 16-18 units 2 columns = 20-22 units
1 column = 7-9 units 1 column = 9-11 units

24 pt.: 18 pt.:
3 columns = 37-39 units
3 columns = 49-51 units
2 columns = 24-26 units
2 columns = 32-24 units
1 column = 11-13 units
1 column = 15-17 units
Headline Schedule
Size 1 col. 2 col. 3 col. 4 col. 5 col. 6 col.

18 pts. 16 33

24 pts. 13 27 40

30 pts. 10.5 21.5 32 43

36 pts. 9 18.5 28 38 47.5

42 pts. 7.5 13.5 23.5 32 40 48

48 pts. 12 20.5 28 35 42.5

54 pts. 18 24.5 30.5 37

60 pts. 16 21.5 27.5 33

72 pts. 14 18.5 23 28
The Body Schedule
Slugline Printer’s
Headline Direction
Body
Schedule
(Lead)

Body
Schedule
(Body)
The Body Schedule
Lead
Font Size 12 pts.
Font Style TNRB

Body
10/11 pts. Font Size
TNR Font Style
 TIPS
What to do to become an effective and winning copy editor?
 01 02
15 minutes 20 minutes
Read and Edit the Copy Write the Headline

03 04
15 minutes 10 minutes
Make the Slugline and Printer’s Review your copy
Direction
 Thank You
CRÉDITOS: Esta plantilla para presentaciones es una creación
de Slidesgo, e incluye iconos de Flaticon, infografías e
imágenes de Freepik y contenido de Sandra Medina