Headlines and Framing

Analyze how headlines and framing shape a reader's first impression of an event.

A headline is often the first, and sometimes only, part of an article people read, so its wording strongly shapes their understanding. Framing means presenting an event from a particular angle by choosing which detail to emphasize. Two accurate headlines can frame the same event very differently. Imagine a town survey where 55 percent of residents supported a new recycling fee. Headline A: 'Majority of Residents Back Recycling Fee. ' Headline B: 'Nearly Half of Residents Reject New Fee. ' Both are true.

A emphasizes support; B emphasizes opposition and calls it simply 'new fee,' which sounds like an unwanted cost. Framing also appears in photos, the first paragraph, and which people are quoted first. When reading, compare the headline with the article's actual content: Does the headline fairly represent the facts? What angle does it choose, and what does that suggest about the author's or publication's purpose? Reading several headlines about the same event can reveal different frames.

• 1Headlines shape first impressions
• 2Framing emphasizes one angle of the same facts
• 3Compare headlines with the article's content