If there's something I've learned that you can take to the bank in poring through "news" stories, it's this: the headline and the first couple of paragraphs actually create the news. People are loathe to read beyond a couple of paragraphs, so if you put what you want people to see at the top, then chances are, even if you clarify what you're saying and tell the truth at the end of your article, the overwhelming majority of readers will never be the wiser.
Atrios remarks on that very subject in this post.
Even some of the sites that I respect and check daily are guilty of this headline news tactic. It always pays to read through the entire article. Always.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
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