The VLW Blog

Headline writers have a thankless job. Having to grab the gist of a story in a few minutes, writing an accurate description that fits the space and – with luck – coming up with something that puts a smile on the reader’s face.
We have celebrated the notable achievements of our comrades in the latter category. [...]

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Seven Virginia circuit judges have set aside orders at the request of major newspapers in the state even though they concluded that the newspapers lacked standing to challenge the orders.
At least one judge, Virginia Beach Circuit Judge A. Bonwill Shockley, refused to do so, however, and her case is the one that was before the [...]

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File this one in the “Headlines I’m Really Glad I Didn’t Write” drawer.
One of Jay Leno’s more amusing and longstanding features on “The Tonight Show” is his skewering of bad headline writing.
A few weeks back, Leno nailed a doozy from The Express-Times of Leigh Valley, Pa. The story’s head was:
Homicide victims rarely talk [...]

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Paybacks are, well, um, we won’t say what paybacks are.
But televangelist Pat Robertson, who has been unhappy with The Virginian-Pilot and its coverage of him and his activities, may buy the newspaper.
Norfolk-based Landmark Communications Inc. announced earlier this month that it will explore selling its assets, including The Pilot and The Weather Channel. [...]

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