When I was in journalism school, a “must-read” was the Columbia Journalism Review (established 1961). Sure, it had articles of interest about the profession. Much better, though, was the last page, where they collect headline gaffes from real newspapers (or, as those in the biz call them, “heds”). Here are some of the best from over the years:
Deer Kill 130,000 (Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 7, 1967)
Milk Drinkers Turn to Powder
(Detroit Free Press, Nov. 12, 1974)
Columnist Gets Urologist in Trouble With His Peers
(Lewiston, Idaho, Morning Tribune, March 17, 1975)
Pastor Aghast At First Lady Sex Position
(Alamogordo, N.M., Daily News, Aug. 13, 1975)
Prostitutes Appeal To Pope
(Eugene, Ore., Register-Guard, Dec. 18, 1975)
Caribbean Islands Drift To Left
(Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 26, 1976)
Dead Expected To Rise
(Macon, Ga., News, Aug. 11, 1976)