Truthful headlines

Agriculture and horticulture journalists chat…

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Aggie: You OK? You look a bit off-color.

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Hortense: Had my annual health check-up this morning. Barium.

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Aggie: Sympathies. Kick in the guts that stuff.

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Hortense: Zombies you. But I’ve got to think of a headline for my column today.

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Aggie: What’s the topic?

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Hortense: Rhubarb. Having writer’s block getting a title any better than “How to grow better rhubarb.”

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Aggie: The title has to attract readers.

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Hortense: How about “Orchids that bloom underground”?

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Aggie: Hmm. Maybe we’re straying into fake news a bit with that.

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Voice-over

Granted the need to spice up a headline. But readers will feel misled by a fake off-topic headline. “Growing better rhubarb” catches a gardener’s eye well enough. It has a down to earth appeal.

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