Final answer:
The heading at the top of an article in a newspaper or magazine is known as the headline. It plays a critical role in drawing the reader's attention to the content, providing a succinct summary of the topic, and reflecting the author's viewpoint.
Step-by-step explanation:
The heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine is referred to as the headline. The headline serves several crucial purposes. It draws the reader's attention with its boldfaced text, succinctly informs the reader of the topic being discussed, and often conveys the author's tone or perspective towards the subject matter. For instance, the headline 'Celebrating a Win-Win: 30 Years of Progress under the Pollution Prevention Act' not only indicates that the article will discuss the progress under the act but also shows the author's positive view on this progress.
Headlines play an integral role in the structure of articles, as they provide a quick summary to readers, allowing them to discern the relevance and interest of the content before diving in. Coupled with other visual components like images, videos, and infographics, as well as text features like subheads and hyperlinks, they contribute to the presentation of information in an organized and engaging manner.