No history in the headlines

Posted at 9:15 AM on November 5, 2008 by Bob Collins (7 Comments)
Filed under: Media, Politics

Are you one of those people who likes to save newspapers on historic occasions? If so, you have to be pretty disappointed with what the major papers stuck on our doorsteps today.

Is there some sort of axiom that says "when in doubt, just put the guy's name in big font?" OBAMA is what the headlines say locally today. OBAMA, what? That's the best they could do? No toying with a campaign theme. "Yes, he did!"? "It Happened with Hope"? "Obama Turns Hope into History"? "Young Black Dude Beats Old White Guy"?

I guess not.

For pure "savability" (what are we supposed to do when newspapers die, print out Web pages?), the Pioneer Press wins the local race hands down.

Take a shot at this. If you were a headline writer, write a headline that would make a reader want to toss the paper into the same pile where now sits newspapers with headlines like "Man Lands on Moon" and "Ford to New York: 'Drop Dead.'"

Here's one from Toronto, for example:

You can browse the world's front pages at the Newseum Web site.

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Comments (7)

Had the same thought this morning (and blogged about it) -- but not as much access to actual dead trees. Didn't even want to tell my kids who won until I show them the big headline.

I guess there's some thrill in firing up the internets for big news, and there's definitely a thrill in following a breaking story online, but if and when "the paper" goes away for good, I'll definitely feel a loss.

Posted by Ken Kadet | November 5, 2008 10:13 AM

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A few suggestions:

Obama Nation!
Obama: "Change has come"
Baracked!

Posted by MacAlum | November 5, 2008 10:23 AM

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Even the New York Post could only come up with "Mr. President"

Posted by MR | November 5, 2008 10:30 AM

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Obama to Bradley Effect: Drop Dead.

Posted by bsimon | November 5, 2008 10:47 AM

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Something like an Obamanon

Posted by kfrush | November 5, 2008 1:33 PM

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Yeah, I would have gone for "Obamenon" myself, though I personally tend to think this election is less phenomenal than the national media seems to (but I'm biased since I wanted to see Coleman, Bachmann, and Ted Stevens of AK all get voted out).

Posted by mulad | November 5, 2008 1:53 PM

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Obamarama?

Barack Attack?

Posted by kfrush | November 5, 2008 3:47 PM

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