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CUTLINE SITING

General guidelines
• Every photo must be accompanied by a cutline.
• A mug shot takes simple identification.
• For more complex photos, the cutline must be at least one complete sentence and up to three. Writing is factual and
to the point, and sentences should be short. Avoid fancy prose.
• Cutlines must identify all recognizable people by name. Crowds and people in the background can be identified
more generally.
• When more than one person in the photo, you will probably have to “site.”
Sentence structure
• The first sentence of cutline must describe the action in the photo. The sentence must contain a present tense,
active verb.
• The rest of the sentences can provide background or more information about the story or photo.
• Avoid clichés such as “shown here” or “pictured above.” Better to just identify the subject and provide
a piece of information about the story.
Identification
The following can be identified without siting:
• single subject photos
• photos in which the action clearly identifies who is who.

photos of opposite-sex people when they don’t have ambiguous names.
• two-subject photos when one of the people is famous.
Directional siting
• Never use directional siting if you can help it. But use it if you need it.
• The main actor in the photo is generally sited first, by describing the action. Then site from left to right, if you have to.
• Famous people are sited first, the rest left to right, if you have to.
• When no main actor, site from left to right.
• For row or tiered shots, site front to back, left to right.
• For circular shots, pick a focal point (usually 12 o’clock) then site clockwise.
Siting directions can either be in parenthesis (from left) such as The Channels uses, or in commas, front to back, depending on the style
of the publication.

Cutlines for soundslides


Unlike in print, cutlines in this media form should be minimal so they don’t compete with the audio.
• Only describe action if the audio doesn’t.
• Use last name only on second reference.
• Put a cutline on every image, but the text be as simple as the subject’s name.