Headline Hospital

1.  Find three examples online of poor headlines used as links and provide their solutions (fix the headlines). Post to your blog.

Headline:  Implants May Ease Sleep Apnea

Problem:  This headline can easily be misunderstood for breast implants.  This can cause confusion and a bit of off-topic curiosity.

Solution:  Palatal Implants May Ease Sleep Apnea

Headline:  Hotel Stay?  Say Gesundheit.

Problem:  This headline doesn’t necessarily make a connection between sneezing and hotel stays.  It took me a minute to digest.

Solution:  Cold Germs Check in to Hotels

Headline:  Make a Wish on Your Birthday…carrot?

Problem:  This headline just confused me.  I don’t know anyone who wishes for carrots on their birthday.

Solution:  Schools Blow the Candle on Birthday Treats

2.      Find at least one article on the Web that you think could be improved with the use of lists. Submit the “before” version and your edited “after” version of the article, or part of the article. Post them to your blog.

“FDA officials said even if everyone stopped eating spinach when warnings were first issued around Sept. 15, they would expect to receive reports about illnesses into October because it often takes two to three weeks to hear of possible cases, perform the needed tests and get results back.

Escherichia coli is a common and usually harmless bacteria found in the guts of animals. A new, toxic strain called E.coli O157:H7 was identified in 1982. It now causes an 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths in the United States each year.”  – Reuters article dated September 28, 2006. “More E.coli spinach found in US outbreak”

These last two paragraphs of the Reuters article discuss E. coli and the illnesses being reported as a result of the recent outbreak.  However, while the article mentions the cases and testing for E. coli, it does not mention any symptoms or things that the general public should be aware of concerning the illness.  I feel that this article would benefit from a list following the last paragraph waring the public of symptoms and how to contact the FDA if they feel a need to be tested for E. coli.

FDA officials said even if everyone stopped eating spinach when warnings were first issued around Sept. 15, they would expect to receive reports about illnesses into October because it often takes two to three weeks to hear of possible cases, perform the needed tests and get results back.

Escherichia coli is a common and usually harmless bacteria found in the guts of animals. A new, toxic strain called E.coli O157:H7 was identified in 1982. It now causes an 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths in the United States each year.

Individuals who have consumed fresh spinach should contact their health provider immediately if they experience the following symptoms:

•  abdominal cramps
• bloody diarrhea
• slight fever
• in severe cases infection can cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure

To report possible cases of E. coli as a result of coming into contact with tainted spinach, the CDC can be reached at 1-888-CDC-INFO.

3.      Re-write the headline for your Weeks 1-3 writing sample with this week’s module in mind.

London:  Off the Beaten Path

4.  Story lede headlines 

• Homeland Security Antiterrorism Database is not Child’s Play.
• Antiterrorism Grants Help Secure Local Businesses
• Homeland Security Grants: Unlikely Targets Make Antiterrorism List