Bildesetting

Bildesetting is a term used in Scandinavian journalism and media studies to describe the process and result of arranging images within a media product to guide interpretation. It covers how images are selected, sequenced, cropped, sized, and accompanied by captions or text.

The practice encompasses editorial choices such as which photographs to publish, the order in which they appear, how they are framed, and how typography and layout interact with imagery to tell a story. The aim is to create a coherent visual narrative that supports the accompanying reporting, clarifies complex events, or evoke a particular mood.

In practice, bildesetting appears in newspapers, magazines, online platforms, and documentary work. Editors and designers assess how an image sequence can frame an event, whether juxtaposition creates meaning, and how captions frame the viewer’s understanding. With digital publishing, metadata, alt text, and responsive layouts add further dimensions to image presentation.

Ethics and critical discussion surround bildesetting because deliberate image sequencing can influence perception, potentially leading to misrepresentation or bias. Professional guidelines emphasize accuracy, proportionality, clear captions, and transparency about edits or omissions.

Related concepts include photojournalism, visual rhetoric, and news framing.