The Anatomy of a Headline
BELVEDERE'S BRIEF- Most headlines never make it above the fold (or above the scroll).
Want to know why?
They bury the lead.
A good headline answers:
• What happened?
• Why does it matter?
• Who should care?
That’s it.
Everything else is extra.
The Problem
They’re too vague.
Too long.
Too boring.
Most headlines die in an inbox.
Rule: Lead with Action, Not Attribution
A strong headline moves the story forward — it doesn’t start with who said it.
The Formula
A strong headline has four parts:
Subject – who or what matters
Verb – drives the story forward
Object – what changed or happened
Hook – why anyone should care
The Style
Under 12 words
Strong, active verbs
No hype, no jargon
Reads naturally out loud
Keep it clean and factual.
The Result
Even potholes can be headline gold if you hit the formula.
CITY CRACKS DOWN ON POTHOLES AFTER SURGE IN PUBLIC COMPLAINTS
Subject. Verb. Object. Hook.
Great headlines build trust before the story begins.
That’s the difference between noise and news.