cutlines

Cutlines are brief descriptive texts that accompany photographs, illustrations, or other visual content in newspapers, magazines, and online media. They provide essential context and help readers understand what they are viewing, including who is present, what is happening, where and when. The term comes from historical paste-up layouts, when captions were physically cut and pasted under images.

Typical content includes identification of subjects, description of the action, location, date, and the photographer or source credit. Cutlines are generally concise, often one or two sentences in print, written in the present tense and in a neutral, factual style. They should avoid speculation and protect individuals' privacy where appropriate.

In digital publishing, captions frequently serve accessibility needs as alt text and may expand on the story beyond the image. Layout considerations can place the cutline nearby or alongside the image, and some styles separate the credit line.

Ethical and editorial practice emphasizes accuracy, avoiding misidentification or misleading phrasing, and ensuring that quotes attributed to a person are exact. Copyright and rights for image use, when applicable, should be acknowledged in the cutline.