CutlinesA picture is worth a thousand

words…only if it has a good cutline, too!

What is a cutline?• Cutlines and captions are words that can be

used interchangeably.• Photo captions and cutlines are the most read

body type in a publication.– WILD ART – photographs that do not accompany a

story. The only information the reader gets about the picture is the cutline.

• It inspires a reader to learn more about the subject by reading the story.

• Write a cutline like it is an mini news story.

• Just like a story, cutlines must be readable and informative as well as following standards of accuracy, clarity, completeness and good writing.

• Use the 5 W’s and the H– Who is in the picture?

– Why is the picture in the paper?

– What’s going on?

– When and Where is the picture taking place?

– How did this occur?

Be precise and concise

• Trite writing should be avoided – Don’t point out the obvious, don’t say

phrases like “looks on” or “pictured above”

• Don’t editorialize– Don’t make assumptions about what

someone in the picture is thinking or try to interpret a person’s feelings by the person’s expression.

Be precise and concise

• Avoid the known; explain the unknown– Don’t characterize the picture

• Don’t use words like beautiful, dramatic, grisly or other such descriptive terms.

• Reflect the image– Make sure your words accurately reflect the

picture. If the photo has two or more people, make sure to identify all of them. (Left to right)

Be precise and concise

• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check spelling– Check the spelling of each person’s name.

• Do it while you are speaking to them and after you type it in the cutline.

• Shorter is better– Cutline writing triggers a temptation to use

long sentences.• AVOID that temptation.

Writing Cutlines

• Because photographs depict events frozen in time, the first sentence of a cutline is always written in the present tense.

• The rest of the cutline is written in past tense.• Houston firefighters (who) battle (present-tense verb, what) a fire

(direct object) at the Fitzhugh Apartments (proper noun, location, where) near the intersection of Fitzhugh Avenue and Monarch Street on Monday, July, 2 (when). John Smith rescued Amanda, 2, before the roof caved in.

Writing Cutlines

• Do not assume

• No opinions

• Double check all your sources to verify information

• Visual nouns and strong action verbs should be used

Checklist• Is it complete?• Does it identify?• Does it tell when and where?• Does it tell what is in the picture, not what is in the

story?• Are the names correct?

– In the correct order and spelled correctly?• Is it easy to read?• Is it specific?• Does it have adjectives?• Is the first sentence in present tense?

Rockets forward Luis Scola drives the lane as Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal defends on Wednesday.

Pvt. Maria Ochoa, 14, from the Reagan High School JROTC program helps carry an American flag down Prairie Street during the Veterans Day parade downtown Tuesday.

Another current resident of the White House, India, squabbles with his Scottie housemate Miss Beazley. The Bush family named India after a former Texas Ranger baseball player, Ruben Sierra, also known as El Indio, but India also goes by the name Willie. The name of Miss Beazley’s father was Clinton, but that didn't keep the president from presenting the puppy to the first lady as a birthday present.