My first reaction was “that’s clever.” It was followed by “I’m so glad my students didn’t write it.”
The response was to a headline in Monday’s issue of The Daily O’Collegian, the student newspaper at Oklahoma State University.
The headline reads: “Diamond in the Muff.” It is for a story about a new strip club opened by a Oklahoma State alum.
The story reads:
“Jerry and Amber Elledge have made bare breasts their business.
As husband and wife, the two own the Blue Diamond Cabaret, a strip club, at 7320 E. Sixth St.
The club opened Jan. 13, less than a month after the Doll House closed.
Jerry, who has worked in adult entertainment for 15 years, said his passion for his work started when he was an Oklahoma State University student.
‘I went to my first topless club at 21, and I never really left,’ Jerry said.”
The headline generated discussion among members of the state’s collegiate media association, which is directed by a member of the OSU faculty and includes The O’Colly’s adviser.
The question seems to be whether The O’Colly’s editors were simply appealing to their student audience or if they were being sensational.
While I’m not offended by the headline, it seems this is a good time to practice the “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” standard of journalism ethics.
The O’Colly’s editors should have considered the mass of their newspaper readership, which goes beyond the student body. They also should have considered how the headline might impact people’s views of the legitimacy of their publication. As one newspaper adviser said in an email during the discussion:
” I believe a rule of thumb for the editors to measure the acceptability of a headline is to determine if it wants to be a tabloid or a credible newspaper. ‘What would the New York Times do?’ versus ‘What would the National Enquirer or a similar publication do?’ “
One thing is for certain. The O’Colly got people’s attention.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
What do you think of The Daily O’Collegian‘s headline? Is it ethical?
StevenChappell says
I like it. It’s perfectly suitable for a college student newspaper audience.
profkrg says
@StevenChappell I agree that it attracts attention and probably works fine for students, but should student media consider other audiences?
I also thought it was interesting that one student commented on their website that it was misleading. In Oklahoma, strip clubs are topless only, which means (technically) there’s no “muff” involved. Interesting, yet correct, argument.
Most of the feedback I’ve seen has been favorable, FYI.
mvm_at_cocc says
@profkrg @StevenChappell Student media should consider the part of their audience that isn’t students, but should not kowtow to that portion of the audience. This, unfortunately, is an all-too-common response; in my experience, it leads to really boring student newspapers.
profkrg says
@mvm_at_cocc @StevenChappell Do you think they followed this advice on this issue? I’m not sure where the line is between considering the full audience and “kowtowing” to them.
stevelackmeyer says
@profkrg @skins96 & I have had quite the debate. I say it will taint that staff w/ future employers. Especially in not owning what they did.
bobbyross says
@stevelackmeyer: @profkrg Extremely crappy journalism. Is there no source who might discuss the negative side of biz selling women’s bodies?
stevelackmeyer says
@profkrg Instead of a student coming out & saying “I did this,” @OColly tersely declared it was an “editorial board” writing of the headline
robothousebrian says
@stevelackmeyer @profkrg I think the student who wrote the headline should switch to Advertising.
profkrg says
@robothousebrian @stevelackmeyer because that business is clever, right Brian?
robothousebrian says
@profkrg @stevelackmeyer I think it’s a great, tacky headline for a proudly tacky business. I’ve written many similar ones.
robothousebrian says
@profkrg @stevelackmeyer If the O’Colly brand is the level of the Gazette’s Chicken Fried News, it’s appropriate. If not, it’s immature.
stevelackmeyer says
@robothousebrian @profkrg I’m going to withdraw from this discussion. It went in directions I never intended. Lots of regrets.
profkrg says
@stevelackmeyer @robothousebrian don’t have regrets! It’s just a discussion.
stevelackmeyer says
@profkrg @robothousebrian No, no. How do I explain this? Gonna try to keep upbeat about it: http://t.co/YIOOuxzk
stevelackmeyer says
@profkrg Compare how @OColly responded to how the Penn State student journalist owned up his mistake on premature Paterno death story.
philsnews says
@profkrg Headline was misleading it’s not going to be that kind of club b/c of OK law…well written article.
profkrg says
@philsnews I agree. The inaccuracy of the headline is a concern.
brittanieshey says
@profkrg Clever. They’re already pushing boundaries with the story itself. Let college students be adults, not children.
Travis Snell says
Hilarious. I wouldn’t use it, but it is funny. Is Tim Waldorf working there?
profkrg says
@vffilak because you know who will take the hit. It’s not the students.
profkrg says
@EllCulp what do you think about the headline?
EllCulp says
@profkrg I enjoy it! We should never be afraid of words.
profkrg says
@EllCulp but words are powerful, yes?
EllCulp says
@profkrg Only as much power as an individual gives them
Rogersthat25 says
At first, I thought the headline was pretty catchy and humorous as we discussed this in class today. I personally would not have published this article in a college newspaper and especially not on the front page. But what I find worse than publishing the article is the inaccuracy of the headline, now knowing the Oklahoma law on strip clubs. I believe that if they are going to publish the article it should have an accurate headline to go with considering there is no “muff” involved.
profkrg says
@Rogersthat25 You are not the only person who thinks the inaccuracy is the larger issue. In fact, my friend @philsnews find that to be the greater concern. He thinks the inaccuracy should have been considered before the ethical discussion was considered. Do you agree?
mlarsh says
The slang term “muff” rather offended me and made me cringe. If The Daily O’Collegian wanted to be considered serious journalism, I think they should have chosen a different headline. I agree that the headline was misleading in that Oklahoma law says strip clubs can be topless only. I had no idea that was the law until I read these comments. I don’t think this headline was ethical based both on its vulgarity and its inaccuracy.
profkrg says
@mlarsh It’s kind of a gross word, isn’t it, Mary?
I hadn’t fully considered the slang concept. I’m not sure I would advocate the use of slang in headlines (or anywhere other than minimally on the editorial page). Although slang might be more fitting for a college audience.
Do you have an opinion about the use of slang in student publications in general?
Kenna
mlarsh says
@profkrg I looked up the word on urbandictionary.com to verify its meaning. I think if words show up on that site, they are definitely slang (even dirty slang) and should not be used in a headline. I don’t find it classy to use dirty slang in print like that. I would want my publication to sound professional and I don’t think vulgar slang can do that.
Prof KRG says
Why wouldn’t you use it? And don’t blame Timmy!
mdelatorre says
I found the headline hilarious, but distasteful. It struck me as a headline of a newspaper that did not have a high credibilty. I understand that the article is not about the most glorious of subjects, but I am questioning whether or not the word “muff” should ever be used in a headline.
profkrg says
@mdelatorre “It struck me as a headline of a newspaper that did not have a high credibility.” This alone suggests to me that it should not have been used. Student journalists learn their craft at the university level. It is where we teach them the professionalism that they will use for the remainder of their careers. Therefore, we should not encourage the use of terms that erode their credibility or question their professionalism. True?
mdelatorre says
Kenna, I would have to agree with your stance on the credibility issue. I think that it depends on the type of newspaper that the O’Collegian is aiming to be. But, since the professors are obliagated to teach the students professionalism, the headline should have been more conservative than it was.
mdelatorre says
Kenna, I would have to agree with your stance on the credibility issue. I think that it depends on the type of newspaper that the O’Collegian is aiming to be. But, since the professors are obliagated to teach the students professionalism, the headline should have been more conservative than it was
vtrammell says
@matt_fletch Thanks for passing that along. I would agree with everything she said, except that it didn’t seem particularly clever…
deleted_2698155_BruceSallan1 says
I think they went for the sensation and I don’t even GET why this story has ANY relevance in a college newspaper!
profkrg says
@BruceSallan1 I can see why a story about an alum’s business might be newsworthy. I don’t see why it’s on Page 1.
We had this discussion in the newsroom I advise. We generally agreed that the students would do nothing but write about alumni businesses on Page 1 if they started this trend. We were a bit concerned of the precedent that in itself would set.
Kenna
Travis Snell says
A little too crude for publishing. Personal conversation? Sure. It’s something we would have done while dummying HLs.
Tim Waldorf says
No way! I wouldn’t have written that. That’s just a bad headline. It is a strained effort to be edgy and crass, and, considering the nature of the business, it makes no sense. Substitute a B for the M, and you have a headline that’s just as clever, that actually makes sense, and that isn’t likely to offend anyone who wouldn’t already be put off by the paper doing a story on a strip club. No?
Prof KRG says
Diamonds in the Buff… this might just work. I would like to think that we would not have compromised accuracy to be clever.
RedDirtKelly says
profkrg I remember this well. Caused a stir among faculty too.