2

The Financial Times, like many other newspapers, has a strip under its title on the front page, split into several items (three in today’s paper — see illustration) promoting articles on internal pages. I was wanting to refer to one of these in a letter but realized I had no idea what the technical/journalistic term for it is. There must be one, because people working on the newspaper have to refer to it, but it’s something that is quite difficult to formulate an internet search for. Does anyone know what it is?

Newspaper front page

Addendum

Apologies, but it didn’t occur to me that US journalistic usage may possibly be different from British usage, which is my practical concern in this case. I’ve addressed that myself.

Improve this question
5
  • When viewing the excellent answer by @Josh61 it occurred to me that British professional usage may be different. So I've modified my question to take that into account.
    – David
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 8:44
  • Can you edit this to show a picture of what you're asking about? :)
    – curiousdannii
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 11:01
  • See also/CF: english.stackexchange.com/q/56155/15661
    – AncientSwordRage
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 12:50
  • 1
    @curiousdannii — Have done. (Apologies for not doing it originally.)
    – David
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 13:02
  • @jejorda — I agree, but the problem is that the accepted answer here differs from that in the other question. Can they be merged or is there another way of dealing with the problem? (And my title is snappier ;-) )
    – David
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 15:47

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
7

A kicker:

  • Also called eyebrow, highline, overline, teaser. Printing, Journalism. a short line of copy set in a distinctive type above a headline and intended to call attention to it. (Dictionary.com)

enter image description here

Improve this answer
4
  • 3
    That's a great picture and answers the question beautifully except for being quite low-res and hard to read. Can you put up a more high res version by any chance?
    – Max Williams
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 8:05
  • @MaxWilliams - I can't find a higher res picture, sorry.
    – user66974
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 11:05
  • No worries, thanks for looking! it's still quite readable anyway :)
    – Max Williams
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 11:07
  • I'll accept your answer as more of the site's users will be from the US. However I've checked British usage. In British journalism ‘kicker’ appears to be used differently. Three sources — here, here and here — give variants on “The first sentence or first few words of a story's lead, set in a font size larger than the body text of the story.” Of your alternatives, ‘teaser’ and ‘overline’ were not quite on the spot.
    – David
    Commented Aug 1, 2016 at 13:36
1

For the specific case when the strip refers to columnists featured in the issue - usually with their photo - I've seen the term flannel panel used.

It seems that this term more generally refers to the text panel (usually inside, rather than on the cover) that lists publisher and editorial staff - the term 'flannel' in this case meaning flattery, the implication being that there's no real need for the information other than to feed the egos of those listed.

The ultimate flannel panel, then, is one on the front page, with pictures.

Improve this answer
1

Am not sure that it’s good etiquette, but I thought I ought to do the work and answer my own question in the context of British Journalism. I only found one term (with a variant) and this was in two separate sources:

skybox or skyline

Guardian/Observer

Skyline : this is an information panel on the front page that tells the reader about other stories in the paper to tempt them inside.

The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook

Skyboxes, skylines : Teasers* that run above the flag on Page One. If they're boxed (with art), they're called skyboxes or boxcars; if they use only a line of type, they're called skylines.

and

*Teaser : An eye-catching graphic element, on Page One or section fronts, that promotes an item inside; also called a promo.

Improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.