Newspapers are increasingly writing headlines which are likely to rank highly in search engine results, according to Cnet reporter Elinor Mills.

Ms Mills noted that search engine optimisation (SEO) has allowed newspapers such as the Boston Globe to have a print circulation ranked 15th in the US, but be the fourth most-trafficked news website.

David Beard, editor of the online version of the Boston Globe, Boston.com, told Ms Mills: "We go into the newspaper production system to create a more literal web headline.

"We've had training sessions with copy editors and the night desk for the newspaper. It's been a big education initiative."

Meanwhile, the Times is said by Ms Mills to receive up to 60 per cent of its daily traffic via search engines.

Writers on the Times Online site have been in training since last summer to increase their awareness of SEO techniques, she claimed.

Cnet previously suggested that online headlines must incorporate key terms which may conventionally be placed in subheadings or as the caption to an accompanying image.