Headlines
Headlines is a short synthesis routine in which each participant writes one newspaper-style headline that captures the most important point of the topic just discussed. It comes from the Visible Thinking work of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Because a headline leaves no room for a list, people have to decide what the core of the session was, and the group hears how differently its members summarise the same conversation.
Facilitation script
- 1
Introduce the task and show one example headline from an unrelated topic. Ask for a complete statement, not a keyword.
2 min - 2
Silent thinking and writing: one headline per person on a sticky note or card.
3 min - 3
Pairs exchange headlines and explain their choice to each other.
4 min - 4
Invite four or five people to report a partner's headline that captured the core for them.
4 min - 5
Post all headlines, read the wall together and name the main common thread and the clearest outlier.
3 min
Tips
Insist on one headline per person and on a full statement, since a single keyword such as 'Trust' hides what the person actually concluded.
Give an example from an unrelated topic so nobody copies your framing.
Asking people to report a partner's headline keeps the sharing short and rewards listening.
Common pitfalls
Accepting single words or slogans as headlines, which tells you the theme but not what the person concluded about it
Running it as a full-circle readout in a large group, so the activity takes far longer than planned and energy drops
Discussing or correcting individual headlines, which turns a synthesis into a second debate and discourages honest summaries
Collecting the headlines and never returning to them, which wastes the chance to show how the group's understanding moved
Confusing it with a future-press exercise and asking for aspirational headlines, which produces wishes instead of a summary of the session
Variations
The pair step follows the pattern of Think-Pair-Share and can be dropped in very small groups, where everyone simply reads their headline aloud. Remote: everyone types their headline into the chat and sends it at the same moment, or posts it on a shared board. For multi-day workshops, collect a headline at the end of each day on the same wall to make the shift in understanding visible. Small teams can write one joint headline per table, which adds a short negotiation about what the core is.
Where it fits
When to use it
A long discussion has ended and you want to know what people actually took from it before moving on
An agenda block needs a clear close in ten minutes without another round of open talk
You suspect participants left a presentation with different conclusions and want that visible
A workshop runs over several days and you want a simple record of how thinking develops
A group tends to summarise in long lists and needs practice committing to one main point
When not to use it
You want the group to imagine a desired future state; Headlines from the Future is the visioning exercise, this routine only condenses what was just discussed
The session produced decisions and actions that must be captured exactly; use a written decision log or a who/what/when matrix, since a headline is too compressed for commitments
The topic was emotionally heavy and people need space to speak; a check-out round gives each person more room than a one-line summary
Nothing substantial has been discussed yet; a headline needs content to condense
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is Headlines?▾
Headlines is a short closing routine in which each participant writes one newspaper-style headline that captures the most important point of what was just discussed. People share headlines in pairs and a few are reported to the whole group. It was developed by Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education as part of its Visible Thinking routines.
How is Headlines different from Headlines from the Future?▾
Headlines condenses a discussion that has just happened into one line and is used to close a block or check understanding. Headlines from the Future asks a group to imagine a press story about a success that has not happened yet and is a visioning exercise. The two share a format but serve opposite ends of a workshop.
How long does Headlines take?▾
Ten to twenty minutes. Writing takes two or three minutes, the pair exchange about four, and the rest goes to sharing a few headlines with the whole group. With more than about twenty people, keep the plenary sharing to a handful of voices and post the rest on a wall.
Can Headlines be used remotely?▾
Yes. Ask everyone to type their headline into the chat and send it on your signal so nobody anchors on earlier answers, or collect them on a shared board. Breakout pairs can replace the neighbour exchange if time allows.
What makes a good headline in this routine?▾
A good headline is a complete, specific statement that someone who missed the session could understand, such as a claim or a conclusion. It names what the person considers most important, even if others would choose differently. Vague labels and lists of topics miss the point of the exercise.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education (Visible Thinking).