Cringe-fest: KUOW newsroom brainstorms a 'cool' headline

Earlier this week, we published photos of what students at Roosevelt High School wore for the first day of school. Brainstorming a headline, editor Isolde Raftery asked her coworkers for help on Slack, the messaging platform.

We wound up with this headline: “First day fits lowkey slapped at Seattle's Roosevelt High,” for which we were mocked on X. Wrote Melissa Santos of Axios: “When local journalism is giving pick-me vibes.”

Fair. But what y’all don’t know is how bad it could have been. Here is that Slack thread, lightly curated, for your enjoyment, and our humiliation.

(You’re welcome.)

Isolde Raftery, online managing editor

What is a younger person word for "cool" these days?

Dyer Oxley, online web editor

dope. fire. extra?

Isolde

I think "fire" has been retired

Dyer

We should bring back "fresh." Personally, I'm still working on Foshizzle.

Libby Denkmann, host, Soundside

I’m hearing “sick” a lot these days

Isolde

What level of cringe is this headline?

Photos: Fresh back-to-school fits at Seattle's Roosevelt High School

Caroline Gomez, editor, Seattle Now

Would it be weird to use serve

Sami West, education reporter

Garfield High School's student newspaper has a column called "bussin' or nah" if that helps

Isolde

Seattle students serve these bussin' fits

(this feels so terribly awkward)

Sami West

Wow this is really making me feel so old

Isolde

I need a teenager on speed dial

Photos: Fresh 'fits on the first day at Roosevelt High in Seattle

?

Jason Burrows, producer, Soundside

Brooklyn (Jamerson-Flowers, producer) says "fresh is NOT it"

<laugh> (it sounds great to me, tbh)

Caroline Gomez

I think serve is more of a noun than a verb

(says lady who has consulted urban dictionary)

Jeanie Lindsay, statehouse reporter

I hear rizz but that's about charisma

"It's giving" is also a common phrase

Ashley Hiruko, investigative reporter

Vinny (her high school age) says this is not the appropriate way to use “bussin’.” Lol

Photos: First day fits slay at Roosevelt High in Seattle?

Brandi Fullwood, podcast producer

"first day fits lowkey slapped at roosevelt high"

Liz Jones, editor

My two Garfield kids here are with Brandi. “Do that. It’s funny.” NO slay. Fresh is ok.

Casey Martin, reporter

Dripped out, no cap

Liz Brazile, deputy online managing editor

Photos: Students be dressing — no ranch — at Roosevelt High in Seattle

Dyer

Everybody here be hella buggin. Listen home skillets, Let's just chillax. We don't make enough beans to go insane in the membrane over this verbal bling passing for slang these days. It ain't as fresh as the '90s. That was da bomb! Like, no duh. And if you don't agree, as if, talk to the hand. Booyah! I'm outtie.

Arvid Hokanson, director of audience