Plain-language lesson

Headlines are the most powerful part of any news story.
Most people never read the full article — they only see the headline.

Techniques include:

  • Emotional language (“outrage,” “chaos,” “crisis”)

  • Fear and panic

  • Loaded wording

  • Blame-shifting

  • Distracting from deeper causes

  • Making readers angry at each other instead of powerful interests

A headline can create a belief in 3 seconds.

✅ Discussion Question

Can you recall a headline that caused anger before you read anything?

PDF – Module 2 Handout