Table of contents

  1. What is a headline release?
  2. Structuring a headline release
  3. Headline release template
  4. How a headline release differs from a bulletin

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What is a headline release?

A headline release is a short page, published alongside a dataset. It includes headline findings, alongside essential methodology and caveats for users.

Headline releases should be used when there is: 

  • limited interest or value in the topic area for users and stakeholder
  • no evidence to suggest users are regularly engaging with more than the first 500 words of a full bulletin
  • little to say about the data from one release to the next
  • limited capacity to publish a full bulletin each month

Structuring a headline release

 

Section Content
Other pages in this release When publishing more than one content page (not datasets) in a release, use this section to link to them
Main points Up to six bullets containing headline figures or trends in the data.
Bullet points can highlight key changes around certainty or methodology changes.
No statistician’s comment
Can include one short warning for essential caveats.
[Name of headline release] data Links to the most relevant datasets referenced in this release.
Measuring the data Should link to more detailed Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) reports, methodology articles, user guides and planned changes.
May also include short updates on important changes, linking to separate pages when there are significant updates.
Related links Links to in-depth analysis or articles on this subject from the ONS.
Can include links to associated bulletins, such as revised or mid-year estimates.
Links to related publications or statistics that users might find useful.
Can include links to publications from other organisations.

 

How a headline release differs from a bulletin

  • Main points are the only commentary provided: there are no additional sections for analysis or reporting
  • Measuring the data is shorter than the bulletin: unless essential, it’s more important that users can easily find a link to the QMI 
  • There is no “Strengths and weaknesses” section: key caveats appear in the main points section, anything else can be found in the QMI
  • The glossary section is optional, and should only be used where important terms cannot be explained in the main points 

There is no minimum length to a bulletin, but if a release includes any analysis, it must also include the mandatory bulletin sections