January 27, 2008
A New Feature? IndyStar “WTF Headlines”
I like to drink coffee. Actually, I require coffee. I like to stay up late at night playing video games, surfing the internet, or whatever. As a matter of fact, it is 1:36 AM right now. It probably won’t surprise you then, that part of my morning routine is to stop for coffee. There are days where I am good and make mine own, but many days I leave in a rush and stop at the Starbucks by my office. (As opposed to the one by my house, or the one on my way to work, or the one in the hospital down the street from my office… you get it).
I actually go to this particular one because it has a drive through, but I rarely use it, as the cars are always backed up way too far, and I enjoy testing my awakeness by attempting to speak with the baristas.
Entering the coffee shop involves me passing an Indianapolis Star newspaper box on most mornings, and I am now starting to make a habit of it, purely for the WTF headlines that somehow make it past the eye of the editor.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the quotes aren’t true, or the information is incorrect, but those are some of the tackiest headlines I have seen in a long time. I’ll admit though, I have thought more about the Indianapolis Star in the past two weeks than I have in the past two years, and I am right now contributing to their brand, although I’m not sure if it is a plus or minus.
It seems to me that there is an obvious push for some shock factor going on right now. I wonder, though… is it selling papers?
Nice. It’s because ganett, the people who brought us USA Today, owns the paper now!
brian, YOU AIN’T READ THEM ARTICLES!!!
the paper is fair and balance journalistic view is fantiastic (for starting a fire.) they just dont know how to write a headline that is both short and informative.
oh yea. another great use for the indystar is to light it on fire, use THAT to light a hundred dollar bill, then use THAT to light a joint laced with PCP. or just dont read it.