The Romans were the first people to publish a newspaper to print gossip, news of deaths, incidents of births, and the latest events. As time passed, the newspaper evolved into a unique form of content and a curious concept made its way into the newspaper text…the newspaper subheading.
Source: Pixabay
Subheadings were introduced in the latter half of the twentieth century. Newspaper editors decided to change the layout of the newspaper to widen readership and started including headlines that grab attention. The newspaper subheading became a part and parcel of writing. Now that most newspapers have transferred online, the impact of subheadlines is more pronounced.
What Is a Newspaper Subheading?
A newspaper subheading is a supporting phrase used to enhance the impact of the headline. Let’s understand this with an example.
Source: New York Times
Take a look at the front page of the New York Times.
The headline of the article reads:
“Isreal and Ukraine Aid Bill Clears Critical Hurdle in House”.
The newspaper subheading (or subheadline), which reads:
“Rare Coalition Allows Long-Delayed Package To Advance”,
explains how the delayed aid package for Israel and Ukraine had finally gone through.
As you can see here, the main heading simply announces a decision made by the U.S. House of Representatives. The subheading, on the other hand, provides context, explaining the negotiations between Democrats and Republicans that resolved the matter.
Why Do Newspapers Have Subheadlines?
The layout of a newspaper is just like a running commentary. At first glance, a newspaper looks like a page full of text. Most people are too busy to go through a whole newspaper in one reading.
That is where newspaper subheadlines come in.
They provide you with a breathing space and give you enough information to help you decide whether you’d want to take a second look at the article.
To Support The Headline
The purpose of a headline is to attract the audience through shock or surprise. A subheadline builds on top of and provides context to the headline. Subheadlines explain the circumstances behind a particular headline. They add new information, explain the facts behind a particular event, or simply reinforce the main title.
To Offer Breathing Space
A newspaper article without subheadings feels like a long essay, making it extremely boring or daunting. Subheadlines in newspapers provide a breathing space for the reader where they can pause and digest the main point of the article carefully.
How to Write A Killer Newspaper Subheadline
Source: Freepik
Writing subheadlines requires precision. You need to use the right words and convey a message as effectively as you can. Here are a few tips to write killer subheadlines that support your title.
1. Make The Reader Think
A subheading should always compel a reader to think. While anyone can write a simple newspaper subheading, you need to spark the reader’s interest with yours. Think about people’s problems and offer solutions that are readily applicable.
For instance, in an article on selling cars, a subheadline that says:
“Sell On The Curb”
is not as effective as
“How To Sell Your Car At A Profit?”.
The second headline offers an immediate benefit to the reader and makes them think about what they might obtain after reading the article.
2. Offer Solutions
When a reader knows that they might get something immediately valuable from an article, they make sure they read the whole thing. Talking about benefits or solutions gives your reader a reason to keep scrolling right to the end.
Let’s say you are talking about a health crisis in the country. The article explaining a pandemic could use a subheadline that says:
“Keep Yourself Safe By Following These Simple Tips”.
3. Use The Right Elements
Subheadlines are only useful when they add value to the text. For example, the newspaper subheadline of an article showing the relationship between car usage and global warming could include striking numbers or statistics that prove the point the headline is trying to make.
You can also add relevant keywords or phrases to increase the SEO factor of your subheadline.
4. Connect With Readers
Write a newspaper subheading that the readers can connect with using common terms and expressions. When talking about AI-generated content, for example, talk about the things that people are curious about when they think about AI content. Write subheadlines that provide readers with relief. You could use phrases like:
- “…AI as Your Ally”
- “…Use AI to Grow Your Business”
- “…Solve Your Writing Problems With AI”
Examples of Great Newspaper Subheadlines
The following are some examples of attention-grabbing newspaper subheadlines that do a marvelous job of supporting their headlines.
The Times
Source: The Times
Let’s look at the headline from this The Times article which explores Prince Harry’s involvement in African Parks. The reader will be shocked after reading the words “Pressure on Prince Harry…”, but the headline does not tell us anything else.
The newspaper subheading, “Dutch Journalist has detailed alleged brutality by African Parks staff after a three-year investigation” tells us more about the case and puts our mind, ironically, at ease. It provides us with a context to the problem faced by Prince Harry and the allegations against African Parks.
The Guardian
Source: The Guardian
The article published by The Guardian regarding Donald Trump’s trial shows the impact of newspaper subheadings. The title, “Silenced in Court…” does a great job of piquing interest, but, in true headline fashion, it doesn’t provide any meaty information.
The subheading, “Ex-president reduced to silence in court, including this week, when he was forced to face opinions of New Yorkers during jury selection” sheds more light on the title. It not only explains the issue in slightly greater detail but also retains the reader’s interest.
[Bonus] How to Generate Catchy Headlines in Seconds?
Subheadlines are only as good as the headlines they support. And what if your headline isn’t that catchy? Don’t worry! Content Gorilla AI’s Free Blog Post Idea Generator has made it easy for you to generate catchy and one-of-a-kind headlines in seconds.
Follow these 4 steps and get your unlimited headlines without any delay!
- Pick a specific angle of your news/ story.
- Find relevant keywords and enter them into the tool.
- Click the ‘Generate AI text’ button and let it create subheading ideas instantly.
- Pick and tweak your favorite suggestion.
Isn’t it as easy as 1,2,3?
Wrap Up
Nowadays, our smartphones and devices are constantly bombarded by all kinds of news. In such a chaotic flow of information, subheadings make all the difference. They help newspapers, online blogs, and website articles create curiosity while also easing readers into their content.
Great subheadings are written after careful research and have a lasting impact on the reader. If you feel stuck while writing, you can use our Free Blog Post Idea Generator to come up with brilliant subheadings in a matter of seconds.
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