Cutlines & Captions

A cutline, or caption, is the text that is printed with an image or graphic as part of a story. It should
provide clear and accurate information that supplements the image. Since photos and graphics often
correspond with a story, you should avoid repeating information that is already in the story as often
as possible. Cutlines shouldnt contain questions or opinions, but they should describe the events
surrounding the image. Here are ten rules you should try to follow when writing the cutline for a
photograph:
1) If something is obvious from the image, you dont have to explain it. For example, if there is an
image of someone baking cupcakes, then Joe Smith bakes cupcakes is not a good cutline. Joe
Smith bakes red velvet cupcakes for the Breast Cancer Research bake sale that evening. The bake
sale raised $300 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation is better because it provides interesting,
relevant information about the image.
2) If you cant find information about an image, it is best not to use it. NEVER make up information
because you dont have any. Think of it as a learning experience, and take better notes next time! It
helps to upload or print images as soon as you can and to write down the necessary information
about them on the spot.
3) Just like in a news report, the writers opinion does not belong in a cutline.
4) Use strong verbs, and avoid using the same sentence structure in every cutline.
5) Use present tense and active voice UNLESS the sentence is not describing something in the
photo. Look at the sample cutline above (Joe Smith bakes red velvet cupcakes for the Breast
Cancer Research bake sale that evening. The bake sale raised $300 for the Susan G. Komen
Foundation). If the image shows Joe Smith removing cupcakes from the oven in the school
kitchen, the bake sale is NOT in the picture, so we would say the bake sale raised $300, using the
past tense. Because Joe is pictured baking, we say Joe Smith bakes, using the present tense.
6) Cutlines should contain the first and last names of all the people in the picture. NOTE: If the
image shows people as part of a crowd, all the names arent necessary.
7) Keep cutlines short; more than once sentence is encouraged, but dont take away from the story.
8) Answer the who, what, when, where, why and how of the image.
9) Dont speculate about or comment on the picture. Avoid using phrases like It seems as if or It
looks as though
10) Dont neglect to edit and/or rewrite cutlines. Just because its a cutline doesnt mean it doesnt
deserve as much attention as other text.

Sample News
Headline (ulo ng balita)
Dog dies saving blind master

Lead (pamatnubay) Most important facts

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD dog saved the life of his blind master, Thursday night, but
the canines loyalty cost the trusty animal his life.

BridgeElaboration of lead
In serious condition today in Doctors Hospital is Erland Escobanez, 71, a street
sweeper. Escobanez of SSS Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City was found early this morning
unconscious on a sidewalk near the AglipayanChurch in the Iloilo Terminal Market.

Less important facts

Police theorized that Escobanez was knocked unconscious when he fell, his
head hitting a stone. Potpot, his dog, apparently tried to shield its master from the cold
and the rain by draping itself over the fallen man.
When discovered this morning by the Police Patrol, Escobanez was still out cold.
The dog lay near, dead.
Relatives of Escobanez who is still a bachelor, told authorities that he always
took nightly strolls at about 11 p.m. with his dog.

Minor facts
According to doctors, only the warmth from the dogs body saved Escobanez
from certain death.
Escobanez told police that he remembers nothing of the incident. A wallet containing
P500 was still in his pocket leading the authorities to rule out robbery.

TOP 1 (Elementary level)

Mayapa Elementary School
Sinag JTS
Ibat-ibang estudyante ng paaralan ang dumalo sa Journalism Training Seminar para matuto kung paano
gumawa ng dyaryo at ito ay naganap sa audirorium ng Calamba Elementary School na nangyari noong
Pebrero 26, 2011 na ginaganap ngayon. Nagtuturo sila upang mahasa o matuto ang mga bata sa
paggawa ng dyaryo.
Natuto ang mga bata sa paggawa ng dyaryo dahil sa pagtuturo ng mga magagaling at mahuhusay na
guro. Natuto ang mga bata na gumawa ng Editoryal at Feature writing. Dahil marunong na silang
gumawa ng dyaryo maaari na nilang turuan ang kanilang kapatid.
Maraming bata ang ngayong maipagmamalaki na sa bawat eskwelahan. Tuwang-tuwa ang kanilang mga
guro at pamilya sa pagiging magaling sa pagsulat ng dyaryo.

TOP 1 (HIGH SCHOOL division)

Calamba Bayside National High School
JTS inilatag, CBNHS dumalo
Nakilahok ang limang mag-aaral ng Calamba Bayside National High School sa Journalism Training
Seminar sa Calamba Elementary School, Pebrero 12 at 26.
Kaagapay ang Sinag Publishing and Printing Services at DepEd Calamba, inilatag ang nasabing
pagtitipon upang hasain ang kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral mula sa publiko at pribadong paaralan sa
buong Laguna. Binubuo ng 11 pribado at 12 publiko na kapwa nagmula sa mababa at mataas na
paaralan ang palatuntunan.
Pinagtuunan ng pansin ng workshop ang pagsulat ng balita, lathalain, editorial gayundin ang editoryal
kartuning. Kaugnay nito, nagging panauhing tagapagsalita sina Renato Catapang Asa, Kenneth Gusa,
Alvin Hizon at Ilang Ilang Quijano para sa mga paksa.
Samakatwid, inaasahan na nina Raia Dela Pea Landicho, may-ari ng SPPS at Dr. Lino Sanches,
superbisor sa Filipino na magkakaroon ng malaking pagbabago sa kalidad ng pamamahayag sa
lalawigan ng Laguna.

Weve all seen those leads the ones where we say to ourselves: Hey, now thats original! or Havent I
read that somewhere else before? Reporters who write clich leads havent invested the time to answer
key questions:

1) Whats my story about?

2) What makes this newsworthy for my readers?

3) How can I draw my readers into this story and keep them reading?

4) Whats the most interesting theme of this story?

The list goes on. The more key questions you ask of yourself and your story, the better prepared youll be
to become original with your lead.

Cutlines
OK, the pix have been picked. Now how about that cutline: What needs to be said? And
how to say it? Online writing is a blend of print and broadcast styles, so remember the
broadcast maxim: See cow, dont say cow. Beyond that, maybe some of these ideas
might help in writing cutlines:

1.

Think of it as an expanded hedline: What simple, concise word(s) would describe

the pic?

2.

Now build the cutline by starting with the most powerful verb that comes to mind,
but be prepared to edit it out if need be.

3.

Continue building by putting in some powerful nouns, preferably in front of the

verb. Remember that English is a left-leaning language.

4.

Using those nouns and verbs, write the facts that tell what is special in the pic.

5.

Use active voice and a conversational tone. But if the cutline is long, edit it three
times. Each time, cut out just one word. By the third time, the cutline might have to be
recast and, therefore, might be stronger.

6.

Use the cutline to refer to the text. Dont repeat info from the hed or lede.

7.

Identify key people. But dont state the obvious or attribute emotions unless it is
beyond doubt that is how the person in the pic feels. (Joe, left, and Joe-Bob, right,
share a laugh at the piano while singing the blues.) An exception might be a file
photo in which the event is more important than the people.

8.

Readers will probably read the cutline before looking at the story, so answer
questions or set the stage for the story.

9.

10.

Tell readers if the photo was shot with special effects (e.g. time lapse).

Give everything one last look since peoples eyes will be drawn to the cutline, and
they may read it in place of the story.