Latest entry in the "Bad headline" contest

"Paltrow's past: 'I wasn't pretty enough'"

From the headline, you're expecting one of those typical complaints from gorgeous women about how they went through an "awkward period" or how they really weren't beautiful in high school. Instead, the article is about Paltrow's professional relationship with director John Madden! The line they chose to break out for the head is essentially a throwaway comment about how Madden wasn't allowed to cast her in some other movie.

Come ON!

On the one hand, that headline does make people want to read the article--in that sense, it's a success. I expected to be complaining about exactly what I mentioned in the first paragraph: "Here's Gwyneth Paltrow, complaining that she's not beautiful. Blah blah blah."

On the other hand, since it has nothing to do with what's actually in the piece, it's a poorly thought out bit of work. But they only had a bare handful of words to use, so I'm not sure exactly what the solution is. "Paltrow: 'An immediate rapport'"?

That's a good exercise for J-school, I think.