ACES: The Society for Editing (American Copy Editors Society), recognized the winners of the 2016 National Headline Contest at the awards banquet during ACES’ 21st annual conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. The organization’s premier headline contest aims to reward exceptional headline writing in all types of mediums media, from newspapers to social media networks.
The winners were announced with the presentation of a commemorative booklet to members in attendance at the banquet. The 408-page, full-color booklet features the headlines from every portfolio placing first, second or third in the contest. Distribution of the booklet at the conference was sponsored by The Associated Press Stylebook.
The booklet is available for sale on the ACES’ website. The cost is $10 per copy, free shipping.
Individual winners in professional categories won between $75 and $300, and winners in student categories won between $50 and $125. The complete list of winners and a sampling of headlines from first-place portfolios are below.
2016 HEADLINE CONTEST WINNERS
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Newspapers over 200,0001 circulation
- 1st, Jim Webster, The Washington Post
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “NYC clears snow, D.C. clears calendar”
- 2nd, Arlene Schneider, The New York Times
- 3rd, Wayne Lockwood, The Washington Post
- Honorable mention, Doug Darroch, Philadelphia Media Network
Newspapers 100,001-200,000 circulation
- 1st, Rich Mills, Omaha World-Herald
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “Snubbed EU to Britain: Just go”
- 2nd, Mike Swanson, The Oregonian
- 3rd, Zack Aldrich, Omaha World-Herald
- Honorable mention, Phil Cornell, New Jersey Advance Media
Newspapers 100,000 circulation and less
- 1st, Steve Wilkinson, The Detroit News
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “Millennials challenge rules of engagement: More couples decide for themselves what to spend on ring”
- 2nd, Mariel Tam-Ray, Denton Record-Chronicle
- 3rd, Don Friske, Daily Herald
Digital media
- 1st, Michael Roehrman, The Wichita Eagle
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “When it’s bird vs. airplane, both lose”
- 2nd, Gael Cooper, CNET.com
- 3rd, Hilary Krieger, CNN
Non-newspaper publications
- 1st, Frannie Sprouls, Human Capital Media
- No other places were awarded
Student publications
- 1st, Maleesa Johnson, Baylor University
- 2nd, Maddy Mikinski, University of Kansas
- 3rd, Kamryn Broschinsky, University of Utah
STAFF AWARDS
Newspapers over 200,0001 circulation
- 1st, The San Francisco Chronicle
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “Hell freezes over: After 108 years of disappointment, the Cubs are Series champions”
- 2nd, The Dallas Morning News
- 3rd, Los Angeles Times
Newspapers 100,001-200,000 circulation
- 1st, New Jersey Advance Media
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “Lawsuit targets a cereal offender: $5M demanded because no real maple in oatmeal.”
- 2nd, Omaha World-Herald
Newspapers 100,000 circulation and less
- Honorable mention, Daily Herald
- No other places were awarded
Digital Media
- 1st, The Wichita Eagle
SAMPLE HEADLINE: “Enlisted at 17. Dead at 19. Returning home 65 years later”
- 2nd, Harvard Business Review
- 3rd, The New York Times
Non-newspaper publications
Student publications
- 1st, The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 2nd, The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University
- 3rd, Wingspan, Laramie County (Wyoming) Community College
