San Antonio paper "heads" off puns at the pass.

[BurtWorm]

No more puns in headlines, copy editors are told.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/tv/stories/MYSA043006.03B.Richter.7ed8cb7.html

In declaring the ban April 21, Rivard e-mailed news editors: "It's a shame to see the good work of so many disparaged because of the immaturity of a few headline writers who seem more focused on peer approval than on producing a quality newspaper for the community."

Here's two of the April 20 puns that — pardon the pun — broke the camel's back:

"Old well ends well: River Walk threat wiped out"

"Mumps outbreak swells"

Most readers scan the newspaper searching for interesting stories. A well-crafted headline, like a well-titled book, catches the eye and draws you into a story gracefully. A pun can, too, but it's more likely to mischaracterize a story's seriousness, as with these Express-News heds:

"Border violence killing tourism"

"Bell's name doesn't have a familiar ring for many voters"

"(Pope) Benedict names a flock of new cardinals"

[SoCalDem]

1. Romanesko has a headline contest.. some are hilarious

http://www.poynter.org/headline_of_the_day/

some are hysterical
Sex in the City: Now Class, Get on Your Knees
Fire leaves dedicated candle makers close to wick's end
Olympic Curling: Does Team USA Have the Stones To Win Gold?
Nun Bun stolen from Tennessee coffeehouse
Cadavers give Rocky students a leg up
Media Sticks Poisonous Popcorn Bags to Teflon Chemicals
My TIVO Thinks I am Gay
NZ finds Black Cocks hard to swallow
Police Recover Man's Body From Elephant Butte
'Men cleverer than women' claim
Orioles: Whiff of Colon proves to be too much for Birds
U.S. Mint seizes priceless coins
Exhibit Of Corpses Comes To Life Today In Florida
Mike the Headless Chicken
Nude Ballet Is Tutu Much
Police: Man's Testicles Locked In Padlock
Young Boys Wankdorf erection relief
Guernsey named to Miss Teen Wyoming position
New collections in Designer Leather Pants Jackets Bikers for Men & Women
Evening gowns|Prom gown| Cocktail dresses|Prom 2005|Prom dress
Skydiver hits tree and breaks leg to start golf tournament
For sale: Casket, vacant, probably unused
Internet is changing business
Snoop peeps fingered in onstage de-blinging
S.Africa woman killed by partner every 6 hours-study
Jacko judge: Larry King irrelevant
Health Study Shows Males and Females are Different!
Well Endowed Fish Get the Girls
Joke-telling genitals don't get free-speech protection

[BurtWorm]

3. Olympic Curling: Does Team USA Have the Stones To Win Gold?

:rofl: :applause:

[NoPasaran]

2. The "Excess-News" used to be a crappy paper with puns

Now it's just a crappy paper.

[karlrschneider]

4. My (very old) favorite: Story about a guy who escapes from an asylum

and sexually assults 2 women in a laundromat:
















"Nut Bolts and Screws Washers"



Oh, I kill me
:D

[AnneD]

5. Back in the good old days of journalism...

when reporters REALLY reported the news-headline puns were an art form. Editors use to delight in crafting a short well turned headline. Boy have things declined.