Part B – Question 2

Choose one headline you created in Part B, Q#1 Part B and answer the following:

Headline 2: 5 Statements From the US Men’s Hockey Players On Why They Rejected The White House Invite And *That* Phone Call Sparking Backlash.

a) What is the primary intent of this headline? (e.g. curiosity, urgency, clarity, relevance, emotional pull)

The primary intent of this headline is to combine clarity with curiosity driven engagement. The use of number 5 reflects organization and structure which makes the information seem digestible and realistic. The line “that phone call sparking backlash” also creates a curiosity gap and emotional tension. Although the headline suggests controversy, it does not provide a complete explanation of what happened. 

The main intent of this headline is to:

• Trigger curiosity.
• Signal informational value.
• Highlight a conflict, suggesting drama to help increase engagement. 

b) What action or response is the headline designed to trigger?

The headline is intended to trigger an immediate click decision. According to class discussions, the headline in digital spaces is supposed to act as a decision trigger that readers process through system 1 thinking which should be fast, emotional and automatic. The goal is to get the reader instantly engaged and click. 

The action that the headline is designed to trigger is:

• Click to fill in that curiosity gap
• Read to understand the what and the why that the phone call insinuates. 
• Stay engaged with the content structured in a list, easy to read format. 

c) Explain why this intent is appropriate for the target audience you selected.

The target audience for this article is most likely people who are socially engaged and consume trending media regarding sports and political culture content, which are the qualities found in BuzzFeed’s target readers. 

These users are:

• Fast scanning, read multiple things at the same time to stay in the know.
• Socially aware.
• Drawn to some drama and controversy.
• Looking for shareable content.

Digital users are very often distracted and could be considered impatient meaning the headline should immediately signal value and relevance to them in seconds before they decide if it’s worth reading or not. 

The use of numbers to help with structure and scannable content and the emotional element of the backlash is combined with “that phone call” to create curiosity all working together to engage the user without fully revealing the outcome.