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I collect headlines and I am upset by headlines that begin with I

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 714 words · By Mike Wills
Media Decline Journalistic Standards
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What to know about Media Decline

I collect headlines and publish the ones I find admirable, intriguing or spectacularly awful every year in Daily Maverick.

Claims checked 20
Techniques found 4
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

I collect headlines and publish the ones I find admirable, intriguing or spectacularly awful every year in Daily Maverick.

Why it matters

Without them, written media content would be an unnavigable mess of potage.

Common ground

We would have no clear way of deciphering what to choose to read.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Authority: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-29-i-collect-headlines-and-i-am-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 95% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Authority 80% confidence
Citing an authority figure as evidence, even when the authority is not qualified on the topic.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to authority helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 90% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 20 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 10
info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified 1
check_circle
Claim 1: “I collect headlines and publish the ones I find admirable, intriguing or spectacularly awful every year in Daily Maverick.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results explicitly confirm the statement that the author collects headlines and publishes them annually in Daily Maverick.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — I collect headlines and publish the ones I find admirable, intriguing or spectacularly awful every year in Daily Maverick. 2025's collection can be found here. Headlines matter.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-29-i-collect…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — I collect headlines and publish the ones I find admirable, intriguing or spectacularly awful every year in Daily Maverick. 2025's collection can be found here. Headlines matter.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202604290481.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Help us fund independent journalism to make sure that it remains free for all to read. Join the 32,000 Maverick Insiders who contribute monthly (or annually) to our membership community and you ...
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/mike-wills/
check_circle
Claim 2: “The Guardian... [had headlines]: I’ve spent decades collecting postboxes; and I was a professional fairy.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results from The Guardian confirm the headline/story regarding spending decades collecting postboxes. The 'professional fairy' part is not explicitly confirmed in the snippets but the postbox claim is strongly corroborated.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Guardian is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian and changed its name in 1959,[5] followed by a move to London.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — I’ve also lost some very dear collector friends over the years. Sometimes I end up with parts of their collections. A friend in Somerset left me some of his boxes when he passed. Another, a former pos…
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/mar/27/experie…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Experience: I’ve spent decades collecting over 260 postboxes. It started with an obscure railway postbox that had been thrown in a skip – now my museum has pieces from Scotland, Ireland and Hong Kong.
https://theguardi-an.life/lifeandstyle/series/experience
schedule
Claim 3: “Mike Wills is a Cape Town-based writer and radio talk show host.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 4: “I’ve spent 35 years heading footballs (The Times)”
VERIFIED
A web search result explicitly contains the headline 'I’ve spent 35 years heading footballs', confirming the text of the claim.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The New York Times uses an unusually large headline to announce the Armistice with Germany at the end of World War I. A headline's purpose is to quickly and briefly draw attention to the story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headline
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — And yet, after 35 years of heading the ball multiple times per match, twice a week, I’ve begun to wonder whether I’m putting myself at unacceptable risk.Damon estimates that he’s probably headed a foo…
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ve-spent-35-years-headin…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Live news, investigations, opinion, photos and video by the journalists of The New York Times from more than 150 countries around the world.
https://www.nytimes.com/
help
Claim 5: “I once stood behind Anna Wintour waiting for the bathroom and yes, she is frosty (Sydney Morning Herald)”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found for this claim in the provided search results.
schedule
Claim 6: “I’m training for my fifth marathon (Daily Telegraph)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 7: “I’ve been drinking in Edinburgh’s pubs for decades (The Times)”
SINGLE SOURCE
While search results discuss pubs in Edinburgh, none contain the specific headline 'I’ve been drinking in Edinburgh’s pubs for decades'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Gilded Saloon Edinburgh review, best pubs in Edinburgh, where to eat in Edinburgh, chill vibe restaurants Edinburgh, Edinburgh food and drink spots, craft beer in Edinburgh, new openings in Edinburgh,…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/pubs-edinburgh-food
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Edinburgh pub-goers will be able to enjoy a pint while standing at the bar when Scotland emerges from the government’s coronavirus tier system on Monday. A leading hospitality boss said he had receive…
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburg…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — These are the best pubs in Edinburgh for a pint at a classic Scottish boozer.Below we’ve rounded up the best pubs in Edinburgh which are perfect place for wiling away an evening in a cosy drinking den…
https://www.cntraveller.com/article/best-pubs-edinburgh
schedule
Claim 8: “I’m a French pharmacist (Daily Mail)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 9: “in the past week, I counted six examples from a single home page of The Times of London, 12 from one of the Daily Mail’s and six on The Daily Telegraph [of headlines beginning with 'I'].”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms the existence of the newspapers mentioned, but there is no independent verification of the specific count of headlines starting with 'I' published in a single week.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Latest news, business, sport, comment, lifestyle and culture from the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph newspapers and video from Telegraph TV.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Daily Mail Online - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
https://www.dailymail.com/home/index.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Access the latest editions of The Daily Telegraph with a digital replica featuring news, sports, weather, and more for your devices.
https://dailytelegraph.pressreader.com/the-daily-telegraph
schedule
Claim 10: “I got off at Sydney’s spookiest train station and this is what I found (Sydney Morning Herald)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 11: “The New York Times... headlined an excellent piece from the peerless Supreme Court observer Linda Greenhouse with: I Almost Never Predict Supreme Court Outcomes.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 12: “I don’t care if Gen Z hate me. I’m mortgage-free, equity-tastic (The Times)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 13: “I don’t care about Artemis II (Daily Telegraph)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 14: “George Orwell in his brilliantly succinct Six Rules for Writing [said] Never begin a headline (or a column for that matter) with the word “I”. That would be evidence of something “outright barbarous””
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for George Orwell consists of general Wikipedia entries about the name 'George' and children's books, providing no information regarding 'Six Rules for Writing' or the specific quote about the word 'I'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — George (English: / ˈdʒɔːrdʒ /) is a masculine given name derived from the Greek name Georgios (Γεώργιος; Ancient Greek: [ɡeɔ́ːrɡi.os], Modern Greek: [ʝeˈorʝi.os]). [1][2][3] It may have been a theopho…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_(given_name)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — George is a good little monkey…and always very curious! For over 80 years, the adventures of George and his friend The Man With the Yellow Hat have been delighting children with their...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu7IDy0y-ZA0qaG51wrQY6w
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · The name George is primarily a male name of Greek origin that means Farmer. Click through to find out more information about the name George on BabyNames.com.
https://babynames.com/name/George
info
Claim 15: “I visited the Masters shop (The Times)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for The Times are general and do not contain the specific headline 'I visited the Masters shop'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The New York Times uses an unusually large headline to announce the Armistice with Germany at the end of World War I. A headline's purpose is to quickly and briefly draw attention to the story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headline
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Henry told the Sunday Times.
https://www.thetimes.com/us
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Live news, investigations, opinion, photos and video by the journalists of The New York Times from more than 150 countries around the world. Subscribe for coverage of U.S. and international news, poli…
https://www.nytimes.com/
schedule
Claim 16: “I married my personal trainer (Daily Telegraph)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 17: “Bronze goes to the Daily Mail with: I lived off cheese and toast and custard creams for breakfast.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results from Daily Mail Online confirm the specific phrase 'I lived off cheese on toast and custard creams for breakfast' associated with Joanna Page.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — JOANNA PAGE: I lived off cheese on toast and custard creams for breakfast.The story made headlines around the world - and pushed his subscriber numbers ‘through the roof’. ‘I went from making about £2…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15614667/middle-cla…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Music video by Roxette performing Milk And Toast And Honey.Listen to all of Roxette's biggest hits on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5njHvoLZkaabX...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxWyAtA7-OY
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Now I learn from the Daily Mail that the Paris-based 1960s icon and sultry star of The Night Porter, Charlotte Rampling, has found love – an une amitie amoureuse! – at 80.JOANNA PAGE: I lived off chee…
https://www.dailymail.com/debate/article-15672219/NADINE-DOR…
schedule
Claim 18: “I’m playing Alec Guinness – this is how I did it and what his son told me (The Times)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 19: “I visit Naples and eat pizza every month (The Times)”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found for this claim in the provided search results.
schedule
Claim 20: “I’m 33 and happily married (Daily Telegraph)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.