Transcript Cutlines - Schools

Cutlines
A 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
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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
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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?
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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.