Tokan sub-headline retracting almost everything sensationalist headline claims
Today I read a headline in a London newspaper that stated "Michel Vorm confirms Spurs switch". "Here we go", I thought, "Maybe one part of this protracted triple transfer is actually done and dusted". But oh no! What was the next (and first) line in the article?
"Michel Vorm has appeared to confirm his switch to Tottenham"
Now, I know it's obviously done and dusted and that makes this not the best example, but the point is that it's becoming increasingly evident that, online especially, websites and newspapers are using shock headlines and capital letters to drag viewers to their site. I've seen it referred to as "clickbait", and the term is very apt.
This led to me having a bit of a moan about this practice on Twitter, but boy am I glad I did! First of all, the ever-excellent Hazelton Wang (who I still can't work out if he's a real person or not) replied with this beauty - perfectly demonstrating the kind of thing I was on about:
@TheSwanseaWay
WILF KEEN ON SUMMER MOVE
He want bigger garden in Swansea
— Hazelton Wang (@Wang10official) July 23, 2014
Next up was @D8nnyJ with this beauty:
@TheSwanseaWay @valleyboy999 @Wang10official
BRITTON IN BIG MONEY MOVE!
puts 500k in savings account.
— Dan (@D8nnyJ) July 23, 2014
This led to a stream of excellent replies, all of which I tried to retweet - sorry if I didn't! Here are some of the best.
@TheSwanseaWay @valleyboy999 @Wang10official
MONK IN MANAGERIAL MERRY GO ROUND!
Monk visits local fairground with premier league colleagues
— Dan (@D8nnyJ) July 23, 2014
@D8nnyJ @TheSwanseaWay @valleyboy999 @Wang10official CRACKS APPEAR IN SWANSEA CAMP
As training shorts are deemed to be loose & revealing
— Liam Crook (@Crookyy96) July 23, 2014
@Wang10official @thexhangman @TheSwanseaWay @D8nnyJ @valleyboy999
DYER IN ITALIAN SWITCH
Buys a new Maserati
— Liam Crook (@Crookyy96) July 23, 2014
@D8nnyJ @TheSwanseaWay @valleyboy999 @Wang10official JENKINS DOES A TAN. Chairman can't believe the shade of brown that Piz Buin provides.
— ForeverJACK (@ForeverJACK) July 23, 2014
@Wang10official @d8nnyj @theswanseaway @valleyboy999
ENTIRE SWANS BOARD RESIGNED!!!
To being only premier league club in Wales
— Hazelton Wang (@Wang10official) July 23, 2014
@TheSwanseaWay STAR TRIO MOVING IN THIS WINDOW! pic.twitter.com/r55up4RQnO
— Clare (@thatclaregirl) July 23, 2014
@valleyboy999 @wang10official @theswanseaway
BLOW FOR SWANS!
As entire team learn to play the trumpet.
— Dan (@D8nnyJ) July 23, 2014
@TheSwanseaWay JENKINS MAKES SHARP EXIT FROM SWANSEA at J48 of the M4 on his way to Neath
— Huw Mellor (@marchamjack) July 23, 2014
As you can see, I had a great morning on Twitter - I particular liked the last one from Huw Mellor!
Jokes aside though, the point is a real one. I can't be alone in being fed up of clicking on titles like "Former Man Utd, Liverpool & Arsenal target in SHOCK move to leading Premier League club for CRAZY wages", only to find out that some random youth kid has reportedly been linked with a move to West Ham.
Sadly it seems there's little we'll be able to do about this. It's only going to get worse, and avoiding the practice puts you at a massive financial disadvantage - this website could easily have five or six times as many views if I tried to "Tabloidify" every headline. After a year and a half of blogging on this site almost always daily, I still make no money through advertising, but if I'd have been sensationalist from day one I would probably be earning a tidy packet by now.
Where's the fun in that though? Anyone can type in capitals and jump on a bandwagon - I like the idea this website gives Swansea (and other) fans something a bit different to read. Something which isn't driven by the amount of hits we're receiving on a daily basis.
Well, not entirely anyway...