Newspaper terminology

Here are technical terms and features for the conventions of a newspaper.


Box-out – A small part of the page, shaded in a different colour.
By-line – the name of the reporter.
Caption – text under the photographs explaining the image.
Crosshead – a subheading within the body of the text of an article.
Feature – not necessarily a ‘news’ item, but usually with a human-interest angle.
Headline – this is the main title of the article, usually in the largest and boldest font, describing the main story. A banner headline spans the full width of the page.
Kicker – this is a story designed to stand out from the rest of the page by the use of a different font and layout.
Lead Story – the main story on the front page.
Lure – a word or phrase directing the reader to look inside the paper at a particular story or feature.
Masthead – the masthead is the title block or logo identifying the 'brand identity' of the newspaper at the top of the front-page. Sometimes a motto is also placed within the masthead.The masthead is often set into a block of coloured print or boxed with a border; the ‘Red-tops’ (The Sun, The Mirror, The News of the World) are categorised by style and the use of a red background in the masthead. Local newspapers generally use 'calmer' colours such as blue or green.
Pugs – these are at the top left and right-hand corners of the paper and are known as the ‘ears’ of the page. The prices of the paper or the brand identity are positioned there. They are well placed to catch the reader’s eye.

Secondary Lead – this is usually only a picture and headline, it gives a sneak preview of a story that you might find inside the paper.
Sidebar – when a main feature has an additional box or boxed panel along side of it.
Spread – a story that covers more than one page.
Standfirst – this is an introductory paragraph,letter or sentence before the start of the feature.Sometimes it may be in bold.
Strapline – this is an introductory headline below the headline.


With writing the articles you have to keep them short and simple so they will be easy to consume and also so you can get straight to the point.